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 2023
Business Components Day @ New Zealand Bloodstock Centre, Karaka, Auckland
- Day 2: Wednesday 8th November 2023
Practical Components Day @ New Zealand Bloodstock Centre, Karaka, Auckland
2023 Young Horticulturist Competition Awards Dinner:
Wednesday 8thNovember 2023 @ New Zealand Bloodstock Centre, Karaka, Auckland
Gala Awards Dinner Tickets:
Early bird tickets are currently on sale and are available from Eventbrite.co.nz, a link can be found on our website www.younghort.co.nz, email info@younghort.co.nz or ph: 09 294 7129. Early Bird tickets have been priced at $245.00 per person, $2,450.00 per table of 10 and are available until the 6thOctober 2023. Tickets sold after this date will be available for $295.00 per person, $2,950.00 per table of 10 while tickets last. We highly advise booking now to avoid missing out.
Orientation Day:
On Tuesday the 5thSeptember, we held our Orientation Day to Launch the 2023 Competition for our 7x 2023 Finalists. The Auckland Botanic gardens was a wonderful setting and the day was a great success despite a few schedule adjustments due to the testing weather. A big thank you to all our Official Partnering and Silver Sponsors, Trust members and Presenters who took the time to attend and ensure our 2023 Finalists are well-prepared for the Grand Final come November.
Meet our 2023 Finalists:
NZ Winegrowers Regional
Congratulations to Tahryn Mason from Indevin Group in Blenheim who will represent the NZ Winegrowers for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Tahryn was the winner of the 2022 Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition.
NZ New Arborist of The Year
Congratulations to Jason Gwynn from Waipa Networks in Hamilton (pictured right) who will represent Arboriculture for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Jason was the winner of the 2022 New Arborist of the Year Competition.
NZ Young Plant Producer
Congratulations to Lydia O’Dowd from Southern Woods Nursery in Christchurch (pictured left) who will represent NZ Plant Producers Incorporated for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Lydia was the winner of the 2023 Young Plant Producer of the Year Competition.
NZ Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year
Congratulations to Renee Johnson from Bark Ltd in Auckland (pictured right) who will represent Amenity Horticulture supported by NZ Recreation Association for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Renee was the winner of the 2023 Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year Competition.
Floristry NZ & NZ Flower Growers Inc.
Congratulations to Sarah Ewe owner/operator of Faux & Thorn in Ramarama who will represent Florist NZ Incorporated (Flonzi) for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Sarah was the runner up of the 2023 Young Florist/Flower Grower of the Year Competition.
NZ Young Landscaper of The Year
Congratulations to Caleb Washington from Goom Landscapes in Christchurch (pictured right) who will represent the Registered Master Landscapers New Zealand for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Caleb was the winner of the 2023 Young Landscaper of the Year Competition.
NZ Young Grower of the Year
Congratulations to Meryn Whitehead from Vailima Orchard’s in Nelson who will represent Horticulture New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Sectors for our 2023 Young Horticulturist of the Year event. Meryn was the winner of the 2022 Young Grower of the Year Competition.
Thank you to our Community of Supporters for 2023:
The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust would like to sincerely thank the following companies for their continued support and we are looking forward to working with this year.
Partnering Sponsor Rod Gibson, Managing Director, T&G Fresh:
“Horticulture is a dynamic industry and it’s the people who work within it that will drive its future success. Our support of The Young Horticulturist of the Year Award provides an opportunity for our business to acknowledge and celebrate the next generation who will shape, strengthen and grow Aotearoa’s thriving horticultural sector.”
Young Horticulturist Competition Official Partners:
Countdown, T&G Fresh, Fruitfed Supplies.
Young Horticulturist Competition Silver Sponsors:
Bayer New Zealand, Trillian Trust, Horticentre Charitable Trust, Craigmore.
Young Horticulturist Competition Bronze Sponsors:
Lincoln University, Zealandia, SNA Europe, ANZ.
Friends of the Competition:
Cornwall Park Trust, Bev McConnell, Auckland Botanic Gardens, NZIAHS, BAHCO, Marisco, Watties, Hill Laboratories, Hort News, Ecotricity, Icon Trees, ICL, Norwood, Aorangi Merchants, NZ Winegrowers, Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture, AEG.
*If you are interested in finding out more on how you can be a supporter of the Competition, please let us know.
We can’t run this valuable Competition without the support from businesses in and around the industry.
Event Manager Update:
Leanda Childs and her team have been busy locking in details and making preparations ahead of this years’ Grand Final Competition being held at the beautiful grounds of Karaka Bloodstock again for a second year.
It was very exciting to meet our 7 Finalists earlier in the month at our Orientation Day where this years’ Competition was launched. All Finalists were briefed and are underway with the first of the competition components ahead of the Grand Final Days in November. A big congratulations to all those winners and sector Finalists on their efforts within their own sectors and we look forward to seeing you all in action at our 2023 Competition.
We continue to work closely with all the RNZIH Education Trust members, to ensure the Competition is well managed and coordinated for 2023 and can’t wait to see everyone in November.
To support the Competition, the RNZIH Education Trust welcomes any donations to assist this important and very worthwhile initiative, in the Horticulture Industry. Donations will assist with the costs to run the Competition each year. Individuals or companies interested in supporting the Competition please contact Leanda.
Posts of photos, videos and news regarding our finalists is being promoted on the Young Hort Facebook page and through Instagram on a regular basis.
Please visit and follow our page for updates on www.facebook.com/YoungHortNZ
You can contact Leanda and the team anytime on: event.manager@younghort.co.nz or (09) 2947129 or (027) 4280826
The Competition is managed by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust.
