NZ Horticulture ITO Young Horticulturist of the Year competition
March 2008

• The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture Education Trust, in conjunction with the New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation, has launched the New Zealand-wide NZ Horticulture ITO Young Horticulturist of the Year 2008 competition.

• This competition has been developed to inspire and acknowledge the talents of young people employed in the horticultural industry.

• The competition is in its fourth year. Last year’s winner was viticulturist Emma Taylor of Napier (see accompanying press release). 2006’s winner, vineyard manager Marcus Wickham of Blenheim, used his award to look at grape production in Spain and Portugal. The 2005 winner, fruit export manager Dean Astill of Hastings, used his travel prize to study tropical fruit orchards in Malaysia and to source markets for New Zealand fruit in Thailand and Singapore.

• Participants must enter the competition via one of the following horticultural sectors listed:

NZ Arboriculture Association
Fruit Sector of Horticulture NZ
Floristry NZ Incorporated
Landscape Industry Association of NZ
Northern Cutflower Growers Association
Nursery and Garden Industry Association
NZ Recreation Association
NZ Winegrowers
Vegetable Sector of Horticulture NZ

• Participants must be 30 years of age or under at the 31st December 2008, and currently working full time in one of the listed horticultural sectors.

• Participants must have worked in a practical, hands-on position for the last three years in the sector in which they are entering the competition and must have completed a minimum qualification such as a NZQA Horticulture certificate level 4.

• Closing times for applications will vary between sectors, but will be no later than the 30th June 2008.

• The winner of each horticultural sector competition will participate in all the activities associated with the Grand Final of the NZ Horticulture ITO Young Horticulturist of the Year competition. There will be a maximum of nine finalists at the Grand Final.

• The Grand Final is a two day event - Thursday 6th November and Friday 7th November - held at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

Day 1 Thursday 6th November:
The AGMARDT Market Innovation Project presentations.
Finalists are asked to attend a one day orientation workshop in late August and then write a marketing project over an eight week period. They will present their project to the panel of judges on Thursday the 6th.

The AGMARDT Market Innovation Project Prizes
1st Prize: $5,000
2nd Prize: $3,000
3rd Prize: $2,000
Consolation prizes of $500 for each completed project.

• Day 2: Friday 7th November

The day’s programme will see the participants test their skills in a range of challenges, including computer-based projects and practical horticultural activities, as well as interviews with the judges.
There will also be a hortisport event where finalists race each other and the clock to complete a number of practical horticultural based activities. These could include such challenges as setting up an irrigation system, bagging carrots, wine tasting decorating a hanging basket and starting a reluctant mower.

A dinner will be held in the evening of the 7th. During the evening finalists are asked to give a three-minute presentation on their current employment, hobbies, interests, and a three-minute prepared industry-related speech.

The Grand Final Prizes
1st Prize includes a travel and accommodation package to the value of $8,000, a Leadership NZ Management course to the value of $12,000, $1,000 Swazi® clothing and $1,000 Fruitfed Supplies gift vouchers, Yates products to the value of $300, $100 magazine subscription, $100 book vouchers.

2nd prize includes an Outward Bound course to the value of $3,500, $1,000 Swazi® clothing and $750 Fruitfed Supplies gift vouchers, $100 magazine subscription, $100 book vouchers.

3rd prize includes $1,000 Swazi® clothing and $500 Fruitfed Supplies gift vouchers, $100 magazine subscription, $100 book vouchers.

Other Prizes include:
The Carann Award for Outstanding Skills and Leadership during the competition, $2,500. The Carann Award for the Best Overall Practical Activities Score, $500
The Royal Business College Award for the Best Overall Speech, $500


Young Horticulturist of the Year 2008 Competition Sponsors
Naming sponsor: NZ Hort ITO
Gold Sponsors: Fruitfed Supplies, AGMARDT, Royal Business College, Ravensdown
Silver Sponsors: Leadership NZ, Carann Ltd
Sector Support Sponsors: Hort Research,
Affiliated Sponsors: ASPLUNDH, Horttraining NZ Ltd, Horticulture News, Treescape, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Swazi Apparel, AsureQuality Ltd, Bella Blooms,
Yates NZ

• The competition is managed by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust


For more information contact:
Elenka Nikoloff Event Manager for the Young Horticulturist of the Year
Ph 09 636 5922, elenka.nikoloff@xtra.co.nz

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