Northland’s Rod and Cindy MacIvor thank community following Marsden Estate sale

Cindy and Rod MacIvor, pictured with their dog Lola, are grateful for the support of customers and suppliers over the last 32 years. Photo / Jenny Ling

After 32 years at the helm of Northland’s largest contract winery and one of the region’s most popular restaurants, Marsden Estate owners Rod and Cindy MacIvor are toasting a new chapter.

The couple are looking forward to a well-deserved rest following the Overseas Investment Office’s (OIO) decision to allow the sale of Marsden Estate to British interests.

The Kerikeri winery, vineyard, and restaurant had been on the market “on and off” for the last 15 years and were a hair’s breadth away from closing.

Tired of the wait, the MacIvors started with “plan B”, lodging an application to subdivide the property.

The application was granted.

“When I got to 70, that was the point where we thought ‘that’s it',” Rod said.

“Last year would have been the last vintage.

“There would have been nowhere for anyone in Northland to take grapes to get processed.

“So this [sale] is a really good result for everyone.”

The OIO cleared British buyers the Mike and Shirley Endean Marsden Charitable Trust to purchase the vineyard and restaurant on 6.7ha at 56 Wiroa Rd for $3.7 million.

Over the years, “there’s been a few people close to buying”, Rod said, but none had worked out – until now.

Mike Endean owns properties in Kerikeri including his own vineyard Kerikeri River and spends a few months every year in New Zealand.

Marsden Estate was on the market for around 15 years before it was bought by British resident Mike Endean, who owns other properties in Kerikeri.

Marsden has been making wine for him for years.

Endean had popped into Marsden Estate before heading back to Britain last January when he expressed concern the restaurant and winery could close.

“He came to say goodbye and he said ‘I know you’ve got the place on the market'.

“He asked me how much, and I told him ... he stuck his hand out and said, ‘I’ll buy it’.”

Under the new ownership, the trust would own the land and buildings, and the restaurant and winery would be run as companies.

The current staff will take over the running of the businesses.

Importantly, winemaking services would continue to many of Te Tai Tokerau’s vineyards, as Marsden crushes grapes and produces bottled wine for 32 Northland vineyards and boutique wine labels.

“Because it’s a charitable trust, it stays in perpetuity,” Rod said.

“So the future of Marsden is optimistic.”

Rod MacIvor said Marsden’s future is secure thanks to Mike Endean’s purchase of the property.

Endean said he was pleased to have saved Marsden Estate which was “an icon” in Kerikeri.

“I couldn’t see grape growers going to have to go 60 miles south to get their grapes crushed.

“It would have been the death knell for some of the vineyards and probably would have been for mine.

“It’s iconic in Kerikeri, everyone is proud of it.

“It needed saving.”

Endean is a motorsport engineer who owned British engineering company Xtrac Transmission Technology, which makes 4WD systems and gearboxes for rallycross, rally and racing cars.

The 78-year-old said putting the business and property into a trust “was something I wanted to do” to ensure longevity.

He also wanted to include his late wife Shirley, who died two years ago, in the trust, so that she would be remembered.

The couple have been visiting New Zealand for 20 years and have many friends here, Endean said.

Marsden Estate was established in 1993 when the MacIvors planted 4ha of vines.

Their first harvest in 1995 showcased lesser-known varietals such as the European-styled muscat, tempranillo and Chambourcin.

The vineyard now also produces a sparkling rosé, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, viognier, rosé, chardonnay, cavalli, merlot, vigot syrah, and port.

Over the years their wines have won awards from the International Wine Show, the Royal Easter Show, the International Chardonnay Challenge, the Bragato Wine Awards, and the Siegelau International Wine Competition.

Rod runs the vineyard and winery operations, while Cindy oversees the well-established restaurant which serves breakfast and lunch.

“It’s a pretty all-consuming job,” Rod said.

“Kerikeri is growing, we’re so busy now and we’re busy all year round.”

The MacIvors move into their new home - a 4ha property with around 600 vines at Ōpito Bay - on February 5.

They plan to spend more time with family, travel, and do some of New Zealand’s great walks starting with the Routeburn track in February.

Rod will take care of the vines, though there will be just one variety – syrah.

The couple thanked the community for their support over the years.

“We’re grateful for the community; they have been very supportive, we’ve been very lucky,” Cindy said.

“We’re going to take it a bit easy and catch up with family.

“After 30 years it’s a bit hard to know what it’s going to be like.”

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with roading, lifestyle, business, and animal welfare issues.