MacLOUGHLIN Eugene James Metge
Personal Details
NameJim MacLoughlin
Also known asThe Father of the Kiwifruit IndustryLife dates1901-1985BiographyJim's first contact with kiwifruit came when he and his wife Molly were looking for alternative ways to make orcharding more profitable on their No. 3 Road property, and they were put in touch with Te Puke man Vic Bayliss who was experimenting with growing chinese gooseberries, as they were called. Originally brought from China to New Zealand by Whanganui Girl's College principal Mary Isabel Fraser in the form of seeds in 1904, the name originated when they were first grown and tasted in New Zealand, and thought to taste like gooseberries. The Chinese called them monkey peaches.
The name kiwifruit was adopted in 1959 to associate the fruit with New Zealand.
Vic had sold all the fruit from his handful of vines for the princely sum of £5, and Jim saw his chance. By 1940, his entire 7 acres of land was planted in kiwifruit vines instead of the Eureka lemons and passionfruit which had proved unprofitable.
In 1952 Jim approached Stan Conway of the NZ Fruit Federation as he was looking to extend his market by exporting the fuzzy fruit. In 1953, the first export consignment was packed and sent to the UK. In 1954 Jim partnered with Graham Bayliss whose orchard was also on No. 3 Road, and between them , they exported 2,000 cases of fruit. There were teething problems, as the fruit arrived damaged because it was sent with the stalks still attached, as was the practice at that time, so improvements were constantly made year after year. Jim's legacy is a NZ$2.9b industry as at 2022.Place of birthRotoruaOccupationOrchardist, EntrepreneurPlace of ResidenceTe Puke
Also known asThe Father of the Kiwifruit IndustryLife dates1901-1985BiographyJim's first contact with kiwifruit came when he and his wife Molly were looking for alternative ways to make orcharding more profitable on their No. 3 Road property, and they were put in touch with Te Puke man Vic Bayliss who was experimenting with growing chinese gooseberries, as they were called. Originally brought from China to New Zealand by Whanganui Girl's College principal Mary Isabel Fraser in the form of seeds in 1904, the name originated when they were first grown and tasted in New Zealand, and thought to taste like gooseberries. The Chinese called them monkey peaches.The name kiwifruit was adopted in 1959 to associate the fruit with New Zealand.
Vic had sold all the fruit from his handful of vines for the princely sum of £5, and Jim saw his chance. By 1940, his entire 7 acres of land was planted in kiwifruit vines instead of the Eureka lemons and passionfruit which had proved unprofitable.
In 1952 Jim approached Stan Conway of the NZ Fruit Federation as he was looking to extend his market by exporting the fuzzy fruit. In 1953, the first export consignment was packed and sent to the UK. In 1954 Jim partnered with Graham Bayliss whose orchard was also on No. 3 Road, and between them , they exported 2,000 cases of fruit. There were teething problems, as the fruit arrived damaged because it was sent with the stalks still attached, as was the practice at that time, so improvements were constantly made year after year. Jim's legacy is a NZ$2.9b industry as at 2022.
Place of birthRotoruaOccupationOrchardist, EntrepreneurPlace of ResidenceTe PukePhotographs
Family
Father's nameThomas J. MacLoughlin (Dr.)Mother's nameClara MacLoughlinSpouseMary (Molly) MacLoughlin (nee Elworth)ChildPeter MacLoughlinJohn MacLoughlinMargaret Green (nee MacLoughlin)Barbara Bayly (nne MacLoughlin)
Mother's nameClara MacLoughlinSpouseMary (Molly) MacLoughlin (nee Elworth)ChildPeter MacLoughlinJohn MacLoughlinMargaret Green (nee MacLoughlin)Barbara Bayly (nne MacLoughlin)Early Settler Data
Pioneer or Early Settler pre1900No
Related Information
SourceInterview with Peter MacLoughlin about history of kiwifruitImage courtesy ofTe Puke Public Relations Office
Image courtesy ofTe Puke Public Relations Officeloading google map....
MacLOUGHLIN Eugene James Metge. Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 22/04/2026, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/3473
