Yates has established itself as an integral part of New Zealand’s gardening history, and was founded by Arthur Yates – an Englishman who migrated to New Zealand in 1879 to escape the damp weather of his native Manchester. The seed business that Arthur opened in Auckland in 1883 was the beginning of what was to become one of the most recognised names in New Zealand gardening.

But much of the company’s success rests on its ability to adapt to changes in lifestyle and to continue meeting the needs of gardeners in each new generation. As time passed Yates became more and more an integral part of the garden, selling a wide range of garden and lawn products that now include fertilisers, pest & disease sprays, weed killer, potting/growing mixes – as well as over 320 different seeds. Back in 1895 Arthur saw the need for a publication that answered gardeners’ questions so he wrote the first Yates Garden Guide, a basic gardening book that is still published more than 137 years later with our 80th edition published in 2022.

We are a team of passionate gardeners that are dedicated to helping everyone discover the many joys of gardening.