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Harakeke, the Niederer family farm at Gorge Road, was both a flax farm and flax mill and a pastoral property raising sheep and cattle. The Maori word for flax is Harakeke, and so the Niederers named the property. The native flax grew in the swampy flats, but over time Louis cultivated and managed it into a major enterprise, which, together with the farm, grew to some 1,300 acres over the years.

Originally acquired by Nicolaus, who established a sawmill to commence clearing the property, followed by a flax mill after the sawmill burnt down, however, it was Louis who realised the potential of Harakeke and built a significant property over the years of his management.

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