Page 2 - Latest News - Young Horticulturist of the Year

Posted On26/09/2024

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...

Posted On24/09/2024

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...

Posted On03/09/2024

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 ...

Posted On23/08/2024

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...

Posted On11/01/2024

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...

Posted On10/11/2023

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...

Posted On12/10/2023

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...

Posted On05/10/2023

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 ...

Posted On05/10/2023

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 ...

Posted On26/09/2023

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 ...

Posted On21/09/2023

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...

Posted On07/09/2023

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...

Posted On27/06/2023

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...

Posted On21/11/2022

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 ...

Posted On14/11/2022

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...

Posted On12/08/2022

Young Florist and Flower Grower

We are excited to introduce you to Courtney Chamberlain, representing the Young Florist and Flower Growers sector at our Young Horticulturist Competition in November.Courtney has years of first-hand experience and is assistant manager of Hadstock Farm in Canterbury.We look forward to meeting Courtney in November with the other finalists.

Posted On28/02/2022

Congratulations Rhys Hall 2021 Young Horticulturist

After our two day competition last week we have finally been able to crown our winner!A huge congratulations to Rhys Hall from Marlborough who is our 2021 Young Horticulturist of the Year!See below link to article:NZ 2021 Young Horticulturist Announced - The world news platform

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