You not just
hiring a drone.
You’re collaborating with a team with decades of growing experience
About Us
John White
Founder
John grew up on a Bay of Plenty family farm before studying horticulture, graduating with First Class Honours specialising in fruit physiology, biochemistry and post-harvest science. His career has included scientific research, commercial orchard ownership, spray contracting, packhouse operations and technical leadership at Zespri.
Experience includes:
First Class Honours Degree in Horticultre
Commercial kiwifruit and avocado grower
Former Fruit Quality Manager and New Varieties Technical Manager at Zespri
Former Chair of the New Zealand Avocado Industry
Former Overseas Director, California Avocado Society
Extensive experience in precision data analysis and crop performance
Liarna White
Founder
Liarna combines practical orchard management with research, governance and industry leadership. From coordinating research during the PSA response to managing commercial orchards and supporting grower organisations, her career has centred on helping horticulture become stronger and more resilient.
Experience includes:
Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture and Business)
Commercial orchard owner and manager
Former Research Coordinator, Kiwifruit Vine Health
Deputy Chair, Kiwifruit Vine Health
Co-founder, Tairāwhiti Growers Association
Advocate for grower collaboration and industry development
Drone Operators Second
GROWERS FIRST
Before Falcon existed, we were growers - and we still are today. We've owned and managed commercial orchards, contract-managed properties for other growers, operated spray programmes, employed staff, monitored crops and balanced the constant trade-offs between production, quality, cost and timing.
That experience changes how we approach every job. We're not simply focused on completing an application or producing a map. We want to understand what you're trying to achieve and how drone technology can help you make better decisions, improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary inputs.
Because when you've spent years growing crops yourself, you know every pass across a paddock has consequences that extend well beyond the day the work is done.
Why it matters
Technology alone doesn't improve a crop. Good decisions do.
Drone technology has created opportunities to apply products more accurately, collect better information and reduce labour and environmental impact. Our role is to combine practical growing experience, scientific understanding and modern aerial technology to help growers make those decisions with greater confidence.
We don't assume. We don't rely on outdated knowledge.
WE STILL TEST, TRIAL, AND KEEP LEARNING
One of the advantages of being growers ourselves is that we can test ideas before recommending them to anyone else. Our own avocado orchard is used as a trial site for industry spray deposition research, helping measure how effectively products are reaching their intended targets within the canopy.
When new challenges emerge, we go back to the research.
We work alongside trusted consultants and specialists.
Agriculture evolves quickly. And so do we.
WHO WE WORK WITH
From dairy paddocks to kiwifruit canopies.
Whether you're managing a family orchard, a large commercial operation or a research project, our goal is the same. Combine decades of growing knowledge with modern drone technology to deliver safer, smarter and more effective outcomes.
Tell us about your block
Send us your crop, the job, and roughly where you are. We’ll come and give it a look and tell you straight whether a drone’s the right tool
PREFER TO TALK? CALL JOHN DIRECT