HortNZ AGM 21 September 2022, Nelson

The Horticulture New Zealand Incorporated Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being held on Wednesday 21 September 2022 at the Headingly Centre, Richmond, Nelson. 

The AGM will start at 4pm. It will be followed by an awards ceremony and the launch of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition for 2023.  Refreshments will be available after this. 
 
HortNZ levy paying growers who are entitled to vote at the AGM will receive further information in the coming week, including proxy voting forms for those members who are not able to attend the meeting in person. 

If you do not receive this information by 25 August 2022, please contact Board Secretary kerry.norman@hortnz.co.nz.

Proposed Central Otago District Plan Change

Proposed Plan Change 19 (PC19) to the Central Otago District Plan is a plan change for the residential areas of Central Otago.  It includes re-zoning land to meet future growth, largely based on the Vincent and Cromwell Spatial Plans that the Council has consulted on before. 
 
Growers are encouraged to consider if the proposed changes will affect their ability to operate in a rural area, and if the re-zoning would take land out of horticultural use in the future. 
 
Submissions on PC19 close on Friday 2 September. Please email leanne.roberts@hortnz.co.nz with the views you would like reflected in the submission that HortNZ will make.  

Survey for Otago growers on state of lakes

If you are a grower in Otago, you have an opportunity to comment on current knowledge and management of lakes in the Otago region.

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is reviewing the need for a separate Otago Lakes Strategic Plan, or if there are other ways to improve management of lakes in the region.

The survey is open until this Sunday 21 August.

Other District Plan consultations 

The Waitaki and the Kaipara District Councils are consulting on draft District Plan changes. The Waitaki consultation closes on Wednesday 31 August and the Kaipara consultation closes on Friday 16 September.  

Also, the Whakatane District Council is consulting on Plan Change 6 - audible bird scaring devices. This consultation closes Friday 16 September.

Young Grower National Final: get tickets now!

The Young Grower of the Year National Final will take place in Nelson this year on Wednesday 21 September.

Tickets are on sale now for the awards dinner on Thursday 22 September at the Rutherford Hotel, Nelson. All are encouraged to attend and support the finalists at the Wednesday activities too.

Contestants will compete in a series of business and practical modules designed to test their horticultural skills, business knowledge, leadership abilities, oratory talents and more.

The 2022 finalists are:

• Nelson - Meryn Whitehead (Vailima Orchards)
• Central Otago - Jacob Coombridge (Webb’s Fruit)
• Pukekohe  - Sarah Dobson (A.S Wilcox & Sons)
• Hawke’s Bay - Maatu Akonga (T&G Global)
• Gisborne – Maninder Singh (Leaderbrand)
• Bay of Plenty - Laura Schultz (Trevelyans).  

Further details can be found on the Young Grower of the Year website