Omaha: Making the jump from city to country

Bev and Hegman Foster left Auckland behind for the country life at Omaha with their two young daughters, although Hegman is keeping his North Shore job until their grape vines mature.

Brian and Sue Pilkington's decision to move from the city to the country didn't happen overnight. As Sue puts it, "Brian looks forward and plans ahead - it's part of his accountancy training."

It was obvious that the family home in Epsom was too big for them and both Brian and Sue felt they wanted a complete change. They already owned a beach house at Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula, and loved the area, but it was not until 1998 that they decided they would look for a property that would allow them to make it their more permanent home. It took two years of hunting to find the perfect place.

"When we told the children - all grown up and living in other places - we were selling Epsom and buying a townhouse as part of the grand plan, they were horrified," recalls Sue.

This was partly because the other part of the plan involved buying a rundown but well-planted macadamia nut orchard on a spectacular piece of land between Hahei and Cathedral Cove.

"It was a real Garden of Eden," says Brian. "It was so overgrown when we bought it we had to make access onto it with a chainsaw. But the trees had 15 years of growth on them . They just needed care and attention - pruning and fertilising, that sort of thing."

He kept his job in Auckland but cut it back to two days a week, and Sue reduced her teaching load similarly. This gave them both a steady income and a bridge between both worlds.

"We just weren't quite ready to cut our ties with Auckland completely at that time."

Five years on, their children have come around to the extent that both sons, Justin, 30, and Hamish, 28, are also involved in Cathedral Cove Macadamias. Any signs of neglect have disappeared and the property is now a boutique producer of high quality macadamia nut products.

"We produced over six tonnes last year, and sold every nut," says Brian. "Demand and the crop are increasing every year."

Sue now recognises that, "We're in another transition phase . The next stage will be to sell up in Auckland and move down there fully. Brian will retire from his consulting work. I'm no longer teaching - I work full time growing the business."

Bev and Hegman Foster of Omaha Bay Vineyards are at a different stage in their lives, but in some ways have followed a similar route.

With two little girls they wanted the freedom and space of country life, and somewhere to keep Bev's horse but which could also produce an income. As wine was also a major passion for both of them it seemed an obvious career path and three years ago they moved to a 12ha block at Omaha, which is now planted in syrah and pinot gris.

Their proximity to Auckland has allowed Hegman to continue his job as a civil engineer for North Shore City, although with reduced hours. This is providing a stable income over the years the grapes will need to grow to full maturity, and for the business to develop.

"I get razzed about having a job off the land , but it works well for the moment," smiles Hegman.

What both these couples have in common is a healthy combination of boundless enthusiasm tempered by cautious and thorough planning. As Sue puts it, "It's all a journey, a change in direction. We're working as hard as ever but enjoying every minute of it. It's become a way of life and, what's more, a family concern. We're all in it together."