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image of Congratulations to all our 2024 finalists!

Congratulations to all our 2024 finalists!

Our five finalists were already national winners of their respective horticultural sector competitions before coming up against each other to compete for the title of Young Horticulturist of the Year.Judges noted the high calibre of talent this year leading to an incredibly tight competition. Everyone was left guessing until the end to find out who was going to take out the overall title. Here are the full results from the 2-day finals competition held at Karaka Bloodstock in South Auckland on 3...

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image of Anna England wins 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year

Anna England wins 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year

Anna England of Amberley, North Canterbury, has been named the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year. Speaking after winning the coveted Young Horticulturist (Kaiahuone rangatahi o te tau) title at the finals in Karaka last night, Anna said her feeling of disbelief over the win quickly turned to one of “great excitement.” Her partner, parents and employers were all there to share the moment.Anna represents the Young Plant Producer sector and works as a sales co-ordinator for Elliott’s Whol...

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image of Introducing Tai Nelson- Young Viticulturist

Introducing Tai Nelson- Young Viticulturist

It may have happened more by accident than design, but Tai Nelson has a job worth raising your glass to. Tai is vineyard manager at Soljans Estate Winery in Kumeu, and he is the young viticulturist finalist at this year’s Young Horticulturist Competition.After finishing his schooling in Albany, Tai travelled and studied hospitality management at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). For 18 months post- qualification he worked in an Auckland restaurant. Then an opportunity came up at Soljans...

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image of Introducing Craig Scott - New Arborist

Introducing Craig Scott - New Arborist

It can be said, Craig Scott jokes, that his perspective of the world is an interesting one given he’s so often high above ground, or way down below.Craig – who represents the arborist sector in this year’s Young Horticulturist Competition  – may work primarily as an arborist, but he’s also a caving guide. And he’s set to add canyoning guide to his resumé soon too.Currently Waikato based, with the intention of moving to Tasman Bay, Craig jokes he’ll be a “north islander tran...

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image of Introducing Anna England - Young Plant Producer

Introducing Anna England - Young Plant Producer

An interest in organics and backyard permaculture has led Anna England to her place of employment.The journey did include a few byways, like time to spend a few years in Wellington gaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Information Systems, and then some overseas travel. Back in her home town in Taranaki, Anna made the decision to head to Christchurch to add to her qualifications, this time at Lincoln University where she studied horticulture.“I got my diploma in horticulture as I was intere...

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image of Introducing Kyla Mathewson - Young Amenity

Introducing Kyla Mathewson - Young Amenity

Kyla Mathewson feels she’s one of those rare creatures – a person who has scored the dream job, one which she can’t imagine swapping out.Kyla is a curator of the geographic collection at Dunedin Botanic Gardens. She will represent the Young Amenity sector at this year’s Young Horticulturist Competition.Born and raised in Reefton, on the South Island’s west coast, Kyla grew up surrounded by rain forest, which she suspects directly influenced her decision to study ecology.The study has b...

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image of Introducing Taylor Leabourn, Young Grower

Introducing Taylor Leabourn, Young Grower

If there’s a prize for the Young Horticulturist competition finalist with the healthiest diet, Taylor Leabourn is arguably a strong contender.Afterall, during his work hours as produce lead at SKU Ltd in Wiri, he is surrounded by bananas… grapes, oranges, melons and pineapples. Suffice to say, potassium and vitamin C levels are high amongst Taylor and his growing family. He and his wife, Bianca, are expecting their first child in January. Taylor, who will represent the Young Grower sector ...

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image of Young Horticultural finalists gather in lead up to competition finals

Young Horticultural finalists gather in lead up to competition finals

Five skilled young people will this year compete for the coveted title of New Zealand's 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year.The five - representing different horticultural sectors - met this week for an orientation day in the lead up to the Young Horticulturist finals, to be held in Karaka, Auckland at the end of October.The five finalists are Craig Scott of Hamilton, Kyla Mathewson of Dunedin, Tai Nelson of Kumeu, Taylor Leabourn of Pukekohe, and Anna England of Christchurch. They represent t...

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image of December 2023 Newsletter

December 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our December 2023 NewsletterThe 2023 Young Horticulturist CompetitionThe Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, are thrilled to announce Meryn Whitehead as the winner of the 2023 Young Horticulturist Competition! Also, a big congratulations to all our 2023 Finalists, they were exceptional in this years’ closely contested Competition.Finalists from left to right: Meryn Whitehead (winner), Lydia O’Dowd, Caleb Washington, Tahryn Mason, Jason Gwynn, Sarah Ewe and...

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image of Meryn Whitehead wins 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year title

Meryn Whitehead wins 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year title

Nelson orchardist Meryn Whitehead has won the coveted title of New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year.Meryn battled it out against six other competitors - representing various horticultural sectors - during a two-day final held in Karaka this week.The 29-year-old is a team co-ordinator at Vailima Orchard, a fourth-generation, family-owned business with more than 200 hectares of apple orchards stretching over the Tasman District’s Waimea plains.Speaking after being announced the Kaiahuone...

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image of Local Florist amongst impressive young horticulturists competing in Karaka

Local Florist amongst impressive young horticulturists competing in Karaka

She’s fought fires, established an “unruly” floristry business, and next month she’ll battle it out against the great young guns of New Zealand’s horticulture world.Ramarama’s Sarah-Lee Ewe will represent the Young Florist/Flower Grower sector at the New Zealand Young Horticulturist final, to be staged in Karaka on November 7 and 8.Sarah-Lee owns a floral and styling business called Faux & Thorn – The Unruly Fleuriste, although all things floral have not formed her entire working l...

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image of Caleb selected to compete at NZ Young Horticulturist Competition

Caleb selected to compete at NZ Young Horticulturist Competition

The chance of a Cantabrian winning the coveted New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the year title has just doubled thanks to landscaper Caleb Washington. Caleb, who lives in Bishopdale and is an operations manager at Goom Landscapes, has won the Young Landscaper of the Year title, which gives him right of entry to the national Young Horticulturist Competition.Also attending the competition finals in Auckland on November 7,8, will be Christchurch’s Lydia O’Dowd who was recently judged NZ’s ...

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image of Meryn Whitehead heading to the Young Horticulturist Grand Finals in November

Meryn Whitehead heading to the Young Horticulturist Grand Finals in November

Marlborough’s chances of bringing home the coveted Young Horticulturist of the Year title have just doubled, thanks to orchardist Meryn Whitehead.Meryn, who is a team co-ordinator at Vailima Orchard, has been selected to compete at the NZ Young Horticulturist of the Year competition finals in Auckland over November 7,8. She will be joined at the finals by Blenheim viticulturist and Indevin Grower Relations Partner Tahryn Mason, representing the NZ Winegrowers sector. Meryn’s selection comes ...

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image of Welcome to our September 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our September 2023 Newsletter

The 2023 Young Horticulturist Competition:The Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust are pleased to announce the dates for the 2023 Young Horticulturist Competition, where we will also be celebrating our Competitions’ 18thyear. We are thrilled to have 7 Finalists competing for the title again this year.The Grand Final dates are set for: Day 1: Tuesday 7thNovember 2023Business Components Day @ New Zealand Bloodstock Centre, Karaka, Auckland Day 2: Wednesday ...

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image of Renee reaps rewards of career switch – now off to Young Horticulturist Finals.

Renee reaps rewards of career switch – now off to Young Horticulturist Finals.

Leaving a deskbound job in favour of the great outdoors has paid off for Renee Johnson.Only four years since leaving a computer job and starting at Bark Ltd (a company focused on the care of significant gardens and grounds throughout New Zealand) Renee has won a national title and been selected to compete in the prestigious NZ Young Horticulturist Competition.Renee won the Young Amenity Competition this year and will represent her sector at the Young Horticulturist finals in November, competing ...

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image of Toasting Tahryn

Toasting Tahryn

A Blenheim viticulturist has been selected to represent the NZ Winegrowers sector at this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition.Indevin Grower Relations Partner Tahryn Mason will face representatives from six other horticultural sectors at the competition’s final in Auckland during November 7,8.Tahryn is the third Indevin employee in recent years selected to battle it out at the Young Horticulturist of the Year (Kaiahuone rangatahi o te tau) final. He follows in the footsteps o...

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image of Arborist hoping to soar

Arborist hoping to soar

Following in his brother’s footsteps has paid off for the Waikato’s Jason Gwynn who will represent the arborist sector at the NZ Young Horticulturist finals this year. Jason, who grew up in Te Awamutu, is an arborist team leader at Waipa Networks Limited. Initially unsure where his career path would lead, Jason made the call three years ago to join his brother, Tyrel, at Waipa Networks. While Tyrel has moved on to other things, Jason’s been fully focused on his journey as an arborist. He s...

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image of Canterbury’s Lydia O’Dowd off to Young Horticulturist Finals.

Canterbury’s Lydia O’Dowd off to Young Horticulturist Finals.

Taking a plant biology paper at university was a game changer for Lydia O’Dowd who was recently judged NZ’s Young Plant Producer of the Year.The Cantabrian - who initially began studying health science - will now go ahead to represent her sector at this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Held in November each year, the Young Horticulturist Competition is a grand finale that brings together the country’s best young talent in horticulture.Lydia is head propagator at Southern Wo...

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image of Top Accolade for Young Tauranga Flower Grower

Top Accolade for Young Tauranga Flower Grower

A twenty-four-year-old Tauranga woman, with a love for hydrangeas, has won NZ’s Young Florist and Flower Grower of the Year competition.Samantha (Sam) Searle, and her partner James, own and run Te Puna Blooms, a business dedicated to hydrangea plants available for domestic and international markets.Sam’s win follows a two-day competition in Christchurch late last week. She will now go on to represent her industry (Florist and Flower Growers NZ Incorporated) at the New Zealand Young Horticult...

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image of Welcome to our June 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to our June 2023 Newsletter

The 2023 Young Horticulturist CompetitionThe Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust are pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 Young Horticulturist Competition, where we will also be celebrating our 18th year. The RNZIH Trust look forward to running the 2023 Competition Grand Final this November.During the Grand Final seven sector winners will take part in a selection of activities over two days to test their practical skills and knowledge as well as desk-based skills, presenting...

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image of Professional Development Day 2023

Professional Development Day 2023

Once again, we would like to say a big thank you to all our 2022 Young Horticulturist Competition Finalists, Trust Members, Speakers and Sponsors who attended the Professional Development Day on Tuesday 9th May 2023.This is a one-day event at the Auckland Botanic Gardens held six months post Competition where our Finalist develop their emerging leadership capabilities through networking, hearing presentations and receiving leadership training such as personality profiling and goal setting.Althou...

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image of March 2023 Newsletter

March 2023 Newsletter

The RNZIH Education Trust are underway with planning for the 2023 Competition and are currently reaching to the supporters and new supporters as we hear up for another great Competition!2023 SupportIf you are interested in finding out more on how you can be a supporter of the Competition, please let us know.We have re-branded some of our sponsorship tiers to reflect the differing levels of support.We can't run this valuable Competition without the support from businesses in and around the indust...

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image of December 2022 Newsletter

December 2022 Newsletter

The 2022 Young Horticulturist CompetitionThe Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, are thrilled to announce Regan Judd as the winner of the 2022 Young Horticulturist Competition! Also, a big congratulations to all our 2022 Finalists, they were exceptional in this years’ Competition.This year we had seven Sector Finalists, including NZ Arboriculture for their second year, competing in the 2022 Competition held on November 8th & 9th followed by our Grand Final Awards Dinne...

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image of Proudly presenting our 2022 Prize Winners

Proudly presenting our 2022 Prize Winners

A big thank you to our finalists, their employers and sector organisations for their outstanding support of this year's competition. After two challenging years, it's been heartening to see the combined sectors come together again and celebrate excellence in horticulture.A special thanks to the Young Horticulturist Official Partners - Countdown, Fruitfed Supplies and T&G Fresh, for their ongoing support, not just of the competition but the future of horticulture through our young ...

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image of Regan Judd has been named the Young Horticulturist of the Year.

Regan Judd has been named the Young Horticulturist of the Year.

Regan Judd has been named the Young Horticulturist of the Year. Speaking after winning the coveted Young Horticulturist (Kaiahuone rangatahi o te tau) title at the finals in Karaka last night, Regan said he was “blown away” about winning, given he was up against “such a strong group of people”.Regan represents the Young Grower of the Year, Horticulture NZ Fruit & Vegetable Sectors and works as an orchard sector manager with T&G Global in the Hawkes Bay. The 26-year-old was...

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