This is a story of taking the plunge. After a successful career in banking and finance, it’s not hard to imagine the reaction David Walshaw received when he announced his decision to grow olives to produce oil, without any previous experience. Here we find out how much physical and emotional effort is required to make a go of lifestyle farming. David and wife Helen take you on their journey from the establishment of their grove at Te Horo on the Kapiti Coast to living their dream and producing award-winning olive oil on a commercial scale. The wonderful thing about the people that invest in schemes such as this – to grow and produce the products that we love to eat – is that they are nearly always a little bit mad. Their stories will always include equal doses of candour and humour, along with the passion that drives them to pursue their dream. It’s the New Zealand way.