HortNZ opens 2026 scholarship applications

Each year, the organisation, which represents New Zealand's more than 4,300 commercial growers, offers a range of scholarships to students who are studying towards undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott says the scholarships are aimed at students with a special interest in the commercial fruit and vegetable industry.

"Through our scholarship programme HortNZ is strongly focused on attracting, supporting, developing and retaining skilled young people to become innovators and leaders in the industry,” says Scott.

She says that career opportunities across the sector are "incredibly diverse", encompassing growing, harvesting, machinery and technology, sales and marketing, policy, human resources, and more.

“We need agronomists, engineers, laboratory technicians, marketers, managers and biosecurity specialists, to name but a few and that extensive scope is very much reflected in the subjects our previous scholars have studied and the careers they have gone on to forge in the sector," Scott adds.

Horticulture New Zealand and the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust each offer a postgraduate scholarship, with each providing $10,000 cash to a student studying in New Zealand.

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These support students undertaking postgraduate study focused on innovation and tackling challenges critical to the horticulture industry's future success.

The Horticulture New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded to a student undertaking study in horticulture or a related field.

The New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded to a student undertaking study specifically related to the fruit industry.

The Horticulture New Zealand Undergraduate Scholarships will enable 18 successful applicants to attend the 2026 Horticulture Conference. Each scholarship is valued at $1,500, to cover the costs of flights, accommodation and conference registration.

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.

Nine of these scholarships will be awarded to applicants from New Zealand’s major growing regions, with one from each region. These are Northland; Auckland/Waikato; Bay of Plenty; Tairawhiti Gisborne; Hawke’s Bay; Lower North Island; Tasman, including Nelson, Marlborough and the West Coast, Canterbury; and Otago and Southland.

The remaining scholarships will be awarded nationally.

The Horticentre Trust Undergraduate Scholarship valued at $4,500 will be awarded to the top five applicants.

This scholarship covers the cost of successful applicants to attend the 2026 Horticulture Conference plus $3,000 cash to support each with their studies.

University of Auckland Masters student Liam Porter, the 2025 New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust Postgraduate scholar, is researching fruit quality attributes in novel kiwifruit hybrids.

“The scholarship has given me confidence that I can put as much time into my research and devote as much time to my studies as possible,” he says.

“Without it, I would be having to do a lot more work hours.

“The other really valuable part of the scholarship was that it included enabling me to attend the Horticulture conference this year.

“That was a really interesting and exciting experience, learning more about horticulture from supermarket chains through to the consumer and growers and how there are integrating plant management, and everything in between.”

Aaron Hewson, the 2025 Horticulture New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, is undertaking genotyping to identify heritage apple cultivars in New Zealand, with potential for use in commercial breeding programmes.

He was also a recipient of an undergraduate scholarship for his initial studies at Otago University.

“The scholarships have been a big help financially but what I have also really appreciated is being able to attend the Horticulture Conferences and learn so much more about the industry,” he says.

“Towards the end of my undergraduate studies, I was offered this research programme. Being awarded the postgraduate scholarship has given me the ability to really focus on my academic research.”

Applications for all of the scholarships close on Monday 1 December 2025, 11pm.