NZ Society - Sphagnum Moss

The export of sphagnum moss had it's heyday in the 1980s and '90s, when Chile entered the market. Now the industry is growing again. Around 98% of sphagnum moss comes from the West Coast. From Karamea to Haast, one million, three hundred thousand hectares are harvested, earning $12 million a year for the area. 80% of the product goes to Japan, mainly to hobby orchid-growers.