A search for a better lifestyle led Tokomaru Bay's Stan and Theresa Cannell to what is now a thriving business in their own back yard.
Developing a goldfish farm is a little ironic for Stan, formerly the local fish and chip shop owner, and a definite change of direction for his sister Theresa, previously a portable sawmill operator.
The innovative business produces around 50,000 fish a year using 0.1 of a hectare and is an example of what can be achieved on a small block of land.
After building a home on a hill above the picturesque Tokomaru Bay wharf, the Cannells decided age was starting to catch up and started thinking about what could be done with their five-hectare vertically-sloped block of land.
"We were looking to get away from hard physical work and I was talking to a guy in Gisborne, who was looking for someone to grow goldfish, and we thought `why not give it a try'," says Theresa.
They knew absolutely nothing about breeding and growing goldfish but with the help of the internet and a lot of trial and error, four years on they now have enough tanks to supply some smaller pet shops all year and generate a weekly income they can happily live on.
They supply small pet shops from Invercargill in the south to Whangarei in the north.
"We knew nothing at all and have had some disasters but someone told us that all aquatic farming businesses have to kill at least a million fish to get it right. We did not lose anywhere near that many, but we did lose a few," she says.
They started with a few tanks but soon worked out that, as with any farming business, it is all about numbers.
"You have to be able to produce in bulk because, just like sheep and beef farmers, we don't get paid what they sell them to the consumer for, " says Stan.
Costs for the Cannells are relatively low because of the efficient system they run.
Pump fuel is reduced by the layout of the ponds making good use of gravity.
Supplementary food costs are minimal due to the closed water system creating almost perfect conditions for growing algae - naturally-free food for fish like grass is for sheep.
The water system is also working perfectly for attracting other natural-occurring organisms such as daphnia, mosquito larvae - not only protein for the growing fish but also essential to keep the water clean.
Although they potter along all year with the breeding, growing and selling of goldfish, from now until Christmas is their busiest time.
As the temperature warms up, spawning (egg laying and fertilising) gets going. Algae and bugs the fish feed on increase and bigger orders start rolling in.
"As it gets warmer, the demand for fish goes up with people tidying up their ponds and tanks, and building new ones," says Stan.
The Cannell's bread and butter fish are the popular comet - the common orange single-tailed goldfish - and shubunkins, a calico-coloured single tailed goldfish.
However, they breed 14 different varieties including fantails, globe eyes, orandas, lion heads, guppies, swordtails and axolots (Mexican walking fish).
"Basically, the speciality fish keep us interested - we are always aiming for the perfect one but we could not make enough money by just breeding them."
They aim for quality above quantity, wanting fish that will survive travel and handling before reaching their final destination.
The goldfish farm is not among the biggest but would be classified about "middle of the range" among fish farms in New Zealand.
They have 100 tanks and because they have access to only a small spring, are totally reliant on rainwater. They have built large storage tanks and recycle all water.
"The water cycle is based on a closed reticulation system where the only water added is rain water and the water loss is through water evaporation. With this system, there is no requirement to discharge any of the waste water into local waterways."
With increasing environmental requirements, this way of fish farming is becoming the norm around the country, says Theresa.
There are nets over all the tanks, not only to prevent birds from taking the profits but also to prevent birds taking the fish and accidentally dropping them in local waterways, causing pollution.
The arrival of frogs in the system is an excellent signal of good water quality and also another sideline for the business - they sell tadpoles now as well.
"That's an added bonus. Often they are bought by schools for children to enjoy watching the changes to a frog."
Stan and Theresa are extremely happy with their fish farming business and work together happily.
"Its great! If we want a day off we can have one. We have fallen on our feet in a lot of ways. We are not indoor people and this is perfect."
