Horticulturist of the Year

The Young Horticulturist of the Year competition is a national horticulture competition organised by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust.  The competition is centred on a mix of practical and managerial based skills and is open to all the main sectors of the Horticulture Industry in New Zealand. 

Leading into the overall national finals are a number of national sector competitions; whereby sector finalists are selected to represent their stream of horticulture at the overall national event. 

The Parkland Amenity Horticulture competition is one of these sector national events. 

Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year Competition - Important Notice

For the past five years, NZRA has run the Young Amenity Horticulturist of the Year Competition and financially supported both the competition itself and the winner through national finals. The event reflects very closely the values of our organisation in identifying and developing young leaders. Over the past years the Amenity Horticulture winners have performed increasingly well at the national finals and many other competitors have gone on to excel in the sector. While we wish to continue our involvement with the event, the financial impact on NZRA is considerable. Unless we are able to secure sector support, both in terms of funding and entries in 2012, NZRA will not be able to continue our involvement with this competition. We are loathe to see the event compromised or not run, as it is now finely tuned and supported in its management by a team based around past competitors and it closely reflects the national event with the winner being well prepared and supported to go forward to Nationals. NZRA is therefore looking to secure funding support from multiple sector sources to ensure the continued running of this great event. Funding commitment on a one year basis will be accepted; however in order to enable the event to achieve continuity and gain momentum, funding commitment over three years is the ideal scenario.  Project Manager Jude Rawcliffe will be making contact with sector groups to ascertain both funding commitment and competitor entry support. However if you wish to assist it would be appreciated if you made contact with Jude directly, jude@nzrecreation.org.nz

Parkland Amenity Horticulturist of the Year 2011

In 2010 the calibre of competitors in this event really ramped up with the amenity winner, Leigh Harrison, going on to compete very well in the overall finals in Auckland, taking out the Practitioners Award and also winning a prize in the AGDMARDT innovation section.

The objective for 2011 is for Amenity to take out the National overall title.

The 2011 Amenity representative has been selected. Congratulations to Rebekah (Rangi) Green from Auckland Botanic Gardens. Rangi was a competitor in the 2009 competition and re-entered this year. The added experience she now has under her belt will stand her in good stead heading into the Auckland based competition on November 9-10 where she will compete against all other horticulture sectors.

Rangi has worked at the Auckland Botanical Gardens since 2007, first as a Horticultural Apprentice, and since 2010 as an Amenity Gardener. She holds the Advanced National Certificate of Horticulture, and has shown great passion in the fields of amenity horticulture and horticultural science. She believes in the important roles of Botanic Gardens, Parks and Reserves and she continues to engage with the local and broader communities through education and plant passion.

• Contestant & Employer Information (PDF)

Parkland Amenity Horticulturist of the Year 2010

NZRA and Parklands have reached a partnership agreement that will ensure the ongoing ability for NZRA to run, and enhance the YAMH national event for the next three years! This is fantastic news and huge thanks goes out to Parkland for their support. It is fantastic to see sector partners becoming involved. Please ensure that you support those who support us! 

2010 Event

The competition was hosted in Hamilton 5/6th August, with the support of the Hamilton City team. Congratulations to Leigh Harrison from Waikato University grounds team who won a very strong competition.

Horticulturist of the Year is generously sponsored by