increase font size
New chief executive of Horticulture NZ, Kate Scott says she’s energised and keen to contribute to the broader primary sector.
After spending 20 years running her own successful environmental consultancy in Central Otago, Kate Scott is ready for a new challenge.
The new chief executive of Horticulture NZ (HortNZ) told Rural News that she’s energised and keen to contribute to the broader primary sector rather than just at a regional level which is what she was doing.
“As a collaborative person I come into the role to bring people together not just horticulture but also the broader sector,” says Scott.
“The fact is that I have really diverse range of experience and knowledge - not just horticulture but also dairy, sheep and viticulture,” she says.
The shape of the whole primary sector is changing with a decline of smaller operators and the emergence of family corporates and larger entities. Horticulture is no different, says Scott.
“There are a number of small family businesses that have been an integral part of the sector in the last 100 years or more; we need to make sure that we support them as well as the larger entities,” she says.
Scott says the demands of the larger scale businesses are different to the small ones and the challenge for HortNZ is having the skills to navigate that spectrum. She says in her previous role she has done just that.
“At the end of the day we are there for all the growers and the challenge is meeting their respective needs,” she says.
The debate around land use has been going on for many years. The horticulture sector has been fighting an ongoing battle with local authorities to preserve highly productive land being lost forever to urban sprawl. Scott says this is one of the biggest issues that she’s had to deal with over the past 20-plus years.
She says it’s a case of finding a balance of what is good for the environment and good for the people and says that taking a binary of view of right or wrong is not always the best.
“I would like to say that horticulture is part of the solution to land use change and diversification.
“Like any land use we have to question where and how we do things and in order for us to flourish we need to actually take a holistic approach, because of the interconnected nature of all these challenges,” she says.
Scott notes that there are very positive things happening in the sector. This includes it being a record year for kiwifruit, and cherries down south looking good provided the rain holds off. But she warns that vegetable growers are facing challenges around being able to grow in a way that they aren’t tripped up by regulation.
“I think that is a particular [issue] for vegetable growers about how they balance the needs of our community around accessing fresh vegetables but in a way that enables them to do that well,” she says.
In recent months some large commercial growers say the way the regulations are being implemented will likely force them out of business and Kate Scott says there needs to be a ‘common sense’ approach to regulations.
A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says access to reliable irrigation water is essential for a thriving horticultural sector.
Horticulture New Zealand has welcomed the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s decision to advance plans for a new water storage facility on the Heretaunga Plains.
The Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) team is looking forward to connecting with growers at the upcoming South Island Agricultural Field Days, says HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott.
This International Women's Day, there are calls to address a reported gender disparity gap between men women New Zealand's horticulture industry leadership.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients is expanding its fixed price offer to help customers manage input costs with greater certainty over the coming season.
Farmers and wool carpet manufacturers are welcoming a Government decision to use wool fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of state buildings.
Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has welcomed the New Zealand Government's announcement that comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations have formally commenced with India.
Exports of dairy products will be included in the negotiations New Zealand has with India on a free trade agreement.
A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.
Sustainably managing powdery mildew on grape vines has taken another step forward, with Hawke's Bay company Greencollar NZ collaborating with Agri Automation to trial an ultraviolet light prototype unit on its table grape vineyard.
OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.
OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.
