James Blair Named 2026 Young Grower National Champion
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
Hort NZ, which represents New Zealand’s more than 4,500+ commercial growers, offers a range of scholarships to students who are studying towards undergraduate or postgraduate degrees every year.
Kate Scott, HortNZ chief executive, said the programme is strongly focused on supporting the next generation of innovators and leaders in the sector.
“There is a huge range of career opportunities in the sector, from agronomy to engineering, biosecurity to sales and marketing, policy and much more. Our previous scholars reflect that diversity of study topics and the careers they have gone on to enjoy.
“We’re focused on our goal of doubling the farmgate value of production by 2035 in a way that improves prosperity for our people and protects our environment. Our scholarship programme recognises and supports the highly skilled, highly motivated young leaders who will be critical to achieving the sector’s ambitious targets.”
Two postgraduate scholarships, each worth $10,000, are available nationally for the 2025 academic year. These focus on students undertaking postgraduate study in New Zealand and tackling challenges critical to the horticulture industry’s future success.
The Horticulture New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded to a student undertaking postgraduate study in horticulture or a related field.
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The New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust Postgraduate Scholarship is for a student undertaking study specifically related to the fruit industry.
Thirteen Horticulture New Zealand Undergraduate Scholarships, worth $1,500 each, are provided to enable successful applicants to attend the 2025 Horticulture Conference.
Nine of these will be awarded to applicants from New Zealand’s major growing regions including, Northland; Auckland/Waikato; Bay of Plenty; Gisborne; Hawke’s Bay; Lower North Island; Tasman, including Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast, Canterbury; and Otago and Southland. The remaining four will be awarded nationally.
Three Horticentre Trust Scholarships valued at $4,500 will also be awarded.
Applicants must be a tertiary student studying towards an undergraduate degree or diploma in any discipline and be able to demonstrate their intent to support the New Zealand fruit and vegetable industry post study. Applications for all of the scholarships close on 1 December 2024, 11pm.
For further details or to apply, please visit www.hortnz.co.nz/people-jobs-and-labour/scholarships/.
