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.
Corrections and Horticulture NZ have seen the first year of a pilot scheme succeed in Hawkes Bay and now plan to expand it into Bay of Plenty. It trains prisoners to be work-ready for employers and sets up horticulture work opportunities for their release.
“Corrections appreciates the support and leadership of the horticulture sector, which is helping change the lives of offenders and giving new hope to their families,” Upston says.
“The pilot gives practical training to eligible prisoners who want work in horticulture and will stay in Hawkes Bay. It allows prisoners to leave prison with meaningful skills and qualifications, and the industry gets trained, qualified employees."
Three ex-offenders have so far got work in horticulture via the scheme, Upston says.
"This appears small, but new partnership agreements are now signed with four other large horticulture employers who support this scheme."
Horticulture is NZ’s fourth-largest export industry, earning $5 billion annually and looking for $10b by 2020. To achieve this it needs more trained and qualified staff in permanent roles especially on the East Coast and in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland, Manawatu, Nelson/ Marlborough and Central Otago.
