Our 2023 Young Plant Producer Lydia O'Dowd recounts her international work travels

Lydia used her YPP and Young Hort winnings to visit overseas plant production operations and build on her horticultural knowledge.

Our Young Plant Producer of the Year, Anna England, is the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year

Our Young Plant Producer of the Year, Anna England, was named the 2024 Young Horticulturist of the Year at the event dinner in Auckland last night (Oct 31)

Girls Who Grow: Cultivating Future Leaders at Akura Nursery

As part of the "Girls Who Grow" programme, Rachel Scanlan, nursery manager at Akura Nursery in Masterton, is connecting young women with the plant production sector.

Govt apprentice boost payment to continue for plant producer employers

A recent Government announcement has confirmed that plant producers employers can still benefit from the Apprenticeship Boost initiative in 2025 but only for first year apprentices.

Fraser Award winner: Paige Brewster

Paige Brewster from Norfork Rd Nursery in Wairarapa received the 2024 Fraser Award.

Government champions women in horticulture with new support initiatives

An initiative that supports networking and career progression of women in horticulture has received state funding.

MPI scholarships available

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is expanding a scholarship programme for tertiary students as part of its efforts to boost on-the-ground support for farmers, producers and growers.

Scholarships available: check if you or your team members are eligible

The Horticulture and Agriculture Teachers Association (HATA) has put together a list of scholarships available in the food and fibre sectors.

We have our Young Plant Producer 2024!

Anna England from Amberley has been named as the 2024 Young Plant Producer of the Year.

Young Plant Producer 2024 finalists announced!

We have our Young Plant Producer 2024 finalists!

Proposed new BSc Major in Horticultural and Plant Sciences: signatures needed

Researchers at Lincoln University have proposed a new Horticultural and Plant Science Major (Bachelor of Science). The next stage in the process of approving the qualification is gathering endorsement signatures to support the business case.

We have our Young Plant Producer 2023!

Lydia O’Dowd of Southern Woods nursery in Rolleston has been named Young Plant Producer of the Year

Plant Careers at Fieldays Opportunity Grows Here Career Hub

For the second year the Plant Careers stand was located in the Opportunity Grows Here Career Hub. Once again, it was fantastic to have the support of MPI/the Opportunity Grows Here team. And was worthwhile to be located with other organisations promoting Primary Industry Careers.

A Passion Shared, Go Gardening

Ezra, who lives in Hobsonville, Auckland with his wife Ina and two little girls, has been involved in horticulture since school days.

Generation Change - Young Woman Bringing Purpose to Food & Fibre

Generation Change is a one-day workshop and mentoring programme preparing young women to make impact in food & fibre.

Sign up for Florida University Greenhouse Training Online

NZPPI members receive a 20% discount on the Florida University online greenhouse training programme

Come along to the Plant Careers open day in Christchurch

Plant Careers is hosting an open day in Christchurch on March 23

Young Plant Producer entries open in April

Now is the time for NZPPI members to talk to their younger workers about entering the newly renamed Young Plant Producer of the Year competition.

Inaugural Fraser Award presented

Our conference awards dinner kicked off with the presentation of the inaugural Carol Fraser Industry Training Award aka the Fraser Award to our 2021 Young Achiever Dani McBride.

Working Holiday Schemes reopening

​The 2023 reopening dates for capped Working Holiday Schemes have now been confirmed by Immigration New Zealand.

New Approach to Food and Fibre Qualifications

Muka Tangata seeks your feedback on proposed food and fibre qualification system

NZPPI exhibiting at Fieldays Career Hub

NZPPI is joining seven other primary industry organisations in exhibiting at the MPI Opportunity Grows Here Career Hub

Our Young Achiever proves her innovation skills

Our Young Achiever 2022 Amy Clark has come second in the Young Horticulturalist Innovation Project competition.

NZPPI Move for Movember

Our fathers, partners, brothers, and friends are facing a health crisis, yet it’s rarely talked about. Men are dying too young. We can’t afford to stay silent.

Conference workshop 2: Leadership transformation

Experienced primary industry leadership coach, Sue Pickering, brought her deep knowledge and inspiration to this workshop to help attendees understand that sticking to a traditional leadership style doesn’t work anymore.

Inspiring Food and Fibre Futures in Schools

Inspiring Food and Fibre Futures in Schools event was held at Orton Bradley Park as part of Inspiring the Future, an initiative that aims to broaden tamariki’s career horizons and challenge stereotypes by connecting volunteer role models with schools.

Zealandia Horticulture embracing Secondary School Employer Partnership (SSEP)

Zealandia Horticulture is working with Christchurch students to promote plant production.

Immigration update: new websites and employer webinar

Immigration New Zealand has relaunched its website to attract migrants plus has a webinar this Friday on Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) job check requirements

Business breakfast provides food for thought

Last week NZPPI partnered up with Lincoln University to host a business breakfast at the PwC offices in Canterbury. Industry leaders came together at the breakfast to discuss how our industry can adapt to the new business environment, where skill and technology are top of mind.

Scientific research to save our rarest plants

Dr Karin Van der Walt is researching our native orchids in a bid to save the rarest species.

Lincoln horticulture event for students on August 15

Lincoln University is hosting a "Fuelling The Horticulture Industry" event on Monday August 15, offering students the opportunity to engage with industry professionals and gain potential job opportunities.

Plan for our sector's future vocational training soon to be released

In a few weeks Muka Tangata will release its future plans for vocational education for our industry

Online Bootcamp for Payroll/HR team members

Business Central has its annual Payroll Bootcamp in July. This year it is made up of six one-hour webinars that explore a wide range of topics in the payroll/HR space.

We have our Young Achiever 2022 finalists!

Young Achiever is being held in late July and for the very first time the venue is to be Lincoln campus.

We have our Young Achiever 2022!

Amy Clark, Branch Manager at Kings Plant Barn in Auckland has been named as Young Achiever 2022.

We have our Young Achiever 2022 finalists!

We have our Young Achiever 2022 finalists!

Nominations open for the inaugural Fraser Award

Nominations have opened for the Carol Fraser Industry Training Award (Fraser Award) and we ask you to encourage your emerging leaders to apply this month.

Is it crunch time for horticulture education?

Thought piece by NZPPI CE Matthew Dolan on how to address the lack of skilled horticulturalists in Aotearoa.

NZPPI opens an office on Lincoln campus

We are delighted to announce that our People Capability Advisor Alice Schofield is now based at Lincoln campus, forging a closer relationship with the institute and providing us with a South Island presence.

NZPPI ramps up myrtle rust action

Jacinta Harrop of Striks Nursery in Otaki has joined NZPPI as our new special programme adviser to help producers manage myrtle rust.

Young Achiever of the Year competition is back and bigger than ever before

Is one of your team members the plant production industry’s next Young Achiever? Give your emerging leaders the chance to represent the plant production industry in the 2022 Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition and boost their growing career.

Local gin made from local juniper berries: Massey researchers making it happen

Massey University researchers are looking to develop a local juniper berry industry to meet growing demand from the food and beverage sector.

Media Release: Nursery grower's green shots for industry

Primary ITO’s PiPI (Pathways into Primary Industries) is at a pilot stage where career-ready people can connect to business owners to help them launch into a career.

Stuff Article - For the love of Houseplants: the rise and fall of indoor plant trends and prices

With the rise in demand for houseplants there is the questions of influential factors such as, social media, the pandemic and lockdowns, a shift in lifestyle, as well as mental health linking to this rise.

Congratulations to Dani McBride!

NZPPI 2021 Young Achiever, Dani McBride, was a major achiever at the 2021 Young Horticulturalist of the Year competition yesterday where she came 2nd overall and presented with a suite of awards.

Primary ITO launches Pathways into Primary Industries pilot programme

Be apart of something massive and check out PiPI online now

Spotlight on careers at Southern Woods Nursery

Southern Woods is one of the South Island’s largest and most progressive nurseries, producing a wide range of plants for projects large and small.

DIY Plantman: telling the story of garden to plate

“I loved working in the nursery and I love my current role. I’d encourage young people to look closely at horticulture as a career. It’s so rewarding.”

Dani McBride calls for more women to get into plant production

“It would be great to see more women in leadership roles. This sector is so diverse and offers such a wide variety of career options."

Spotlight on careers at Waimea Nurseries

For 30 years Waimea Nurseries near Nelson has supplied fruit, nut, and deciduous ornamental trees to garden retailers. Here we hear from three staff members about their experiences of working within the nursery.

Learn how you can have the opportunity to connect with industry at Secondary School

SSEP is an amazing opportunity for you as students to understand more about the plant production industry, and get inspired to pursue a career in plant production.

Introducing you to Plant Careers

Plant Careers is NZ Plant Producers movement to promote plant production and inspire people in Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue a career working with plants.