July wasn’t particularly kind to Hawke’s Bay, with the region receiving below average rainfall for the month.   The Heretaunga Plains is the one area in Hawke’s Bay that has experienced three consecutive months of below normal rainfall.  However, the good news is that river flows were near normal for July and similarly groundwater levels.  Soil moisture held up well during the month and has since been boosted by early August rain.  We had some balmy days during July, which tipped daytime averages for the month above average but night-time temperatures were colder than average. Sea temperatures in Hawke Bay were a little cooler than usual.

An El Niño event has roared into being during winter and is expected to extend through spring, summer and into next autumn.  It’s already being categorised as a strong event and is expected to intensify further over spring to become a very strong event.  A positive Indian Ocean Dipole is predicted to sit alongside it in spring, as it can often do.  Both can mean reduced rainfall for the region by enhancing westerly winds over New Zealand and altering storm tracks.

Each El Niño event can play out differently, so drier than usual seasons ahead may not be the outcome, but having a plan in case it does is a good idea.  Current predictions suggest spring will have a drier than average theme.  This comes from westerly winds featuring during the season from a pattern of above normal sea level pressure west of New Zealand and below normal pressure to the east of the country.  Spring temperatures could average out to near normal with a continued swing between balmy days and days that feel more like a lingering winter.  As this El Niño

event intensifies further, it will be worth keeping track of how it impacts the region’s water resources.

HBFA President’s Report – August 2026

Season Kick-Off

Early spraying has begun across the region, as we start another fruit growing season. There are forecasts of a strong El Niño phase intensifying through this spring and summer. For us here in HB, this typically means a much higher risk of strong westerly winds with hot, dry conditions. So, preparing for this will be extremely important in managing our crops through the 26/27 growing year.

• Irrigation maintenance is Key: Check your infrastructure early so your systems are all ready to go. Test your soil moisture probes and double-check your regional water consent limits to make sure you know exactly how much you can use and when.
• Manage Spray Windows: Stronger, more frequent winds mean our spraying windows could be tight. Monitor daily forecasts and plan your spray periods.
• Hot Weather: Sunburn will likely be an issue later in the season so get a plan ready for how you will manage this.

Please make sure that water meters and/or telemetry units are working well and accurately recording all water used. Having accurate water use records is going to be important no matter what the new resource management system looks like, so make sure your system is working well, and that you periodically check it, to make sure it continues to operate correctly over the coming season.

Young Grower National Final

The 2026 Young Grower of the Year National Final took place last week in Cromwell Central Otago on the 27th–28^th August. I was down there along with a good contingent from HBFA to support Maddi Sheridan our HB Regional winner.

All the finalists completed a series of practical and business modules at 45 South Cherries spanning agronomy, machinery, compliance, and biosecurity.

Pukekohe agronomist James Blair (AS Wilcox) took out first place and the speech component, followed by Amber Davy (Canterbury) in second and Amelia Marsden (Nelson) in third place. Maddi who is the Quality and Compliance Manager “Growing” at T&G Global, performed exceptionally well across all modules.  The event concluded with a gala dinner at Te Puna Mahara.

HBFA Annual General Meeting (AGM) Notice

Our Annual General Meeting is coming up fast. It is a great opportunity to connect, reflect on the year, and look ahead to how the association can best support you. I encourage you to come and catch up with the team.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 23 September 2026, 6:30pm
• Location: Foodeast Haumako, 4 Hanui Road, Tomoana, Hastings
• Key Deadline: Nominations for Executive Committee positions and Notices of motion must be submitted by Tuesday 1 September 5.00pm

Ngā mihi nui,

Brydon Nisbet

President
Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association

Presidents Report

We are halfway through the year already. Everything is about to gear up with summer fruit is already starting to move in some areas. Apple growers have also begun to apply early dormancy breaker sprays.

Before we know it we will be in full swing as another growing season begins.

It is always a difficult time for our industry when the recent news came out that a couple of prominent local orchard operations had to enter voluntary administration and liquidation.

This is never good, especially because of the impacts on people, local families, hard-working orchard teams and of course the effects on the fruit growing industry.

The wider industry has come around in support of the employees from these companies.                                                                                                        Recently an open day was held where the employees from these companies were invited to attend. MSD led this initiative with NZ Apples and Pears, Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association and the East Coast Rural Support Trust, all there to support our industry colleagues. We had over 60 people attend. The result of this is that over 20 people have taken up new employment, with many more employer connections being facilitated. Our industry has a long history of looking out for one another and our focus remains on supporting the affected workers and families. HBFA are always here for our fruit growing sector – please get in touch if you would like to talk.

I recently attended the NZAPI EXPO 2026 in Queenstown. Always a great time to network with different growers from around the country. A major highlight of the NZAPI Awards Dinner at the Millennium Hotel was keynote speaker Dan Henry, the iconic voice and producer behind Hyundai Country Calendar. Dan shared real stories of rural New Zealand, connecting storytelling to our own everyday orchard realities.

Mel Ewers, from Nelson, received the Outstanding Contribution Award for her 50 + years of quiet leadership, dedication to compliance training, and steadfast mentorship across the sector.

“I’m currently at the combined Horticulture and RSE conference in Wellington.     There are around 800 growers, employers, and industry leaders here to attend some excellent workshops with a great line up of speakers.

Up-date on TANK

There have been a few delays in the process as HBRC has asked for more time to consider TANK with the current reform process.

There is now a move toward the next phase which has included looking at what points each party is closer on, and points that are more challenging with parties’ positions.

Most of the Horticulture points fall into the latter. The next stage will see discussion on points where positions are closer.

We will wait to see what the next steps are on our points. And if the government reforms will have any impact.

Up-coming events include the National Young grower final being held in Cromwell in a months’ time. Maddi Sherridan from T&G Global will be representing us.

Also, a heads up (nice and early) Our AGM will be held on Wednesday 23^rd September so be sure to put this in your calendars

Ngā mihi nui,

Brydon Nisbet

President
Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association

We’ve had contrary weather of late.  March was very dry, April very wet, May was very dry and now June was wet. The first month of winter brought ample rain, 123% of the month’s average. Northern areas especially received a large share, while the Heretaunga Plains was the one area that fell short of average June rainfall. It could potentially end July having had three consecutive months of below normal rainfall. 

 The month’s rain helped river flows reach near normal June levels, similarly groundwater levels.  Soil moisture levels across the region tracked near or above median levels for the time of year.  Air temperatures in June were impressive, with daytime temperatures 1.5 °C warmer than average and overnight temperatures a mighty 2°C warmer.

 El Niño conditions have established and a very strong event seems likely. Some of the past very strong events, such as the 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 events, didn’t turn out well for the region.  They brought significant droughts.  El Niño events can play out quite differently so it’s not guaranteed that extremely dry conditions will eventuate on this occasion but it’s wise to be prepared in case.   One countering feature is that sea temperatures have been relatively warm around the country.  The region’s dry spells are more associated with colder seas.

 The predicted pressure pattern for the next three months suggests a westerly flow will dominate. It’s to be expected in El Niño conditions.  The pattern has higher than normal pressure west and north of New Zealand and below normal to the south and northeast.  Rainfall forecasts suggest we could be short of rain over the period, while temperatures remain near or above average.  On the bright side, the region’s water resources are in a pretty good state, for now at least, as we face the possibility of drier weather.

The promised El Niño event is here and May’s rainfall could be the sorry theme in the months ahead.  The region’s May total was well below normal, only 34%, while the Heretaunga Plains, Ruataniwha Plains and Ruahine Range had a lowly 18-20%. River flows were below average but groundwater levels were normal as April’s more ample rain filtered through.  Air temperatures were near average, so too soil moisture.  Sea temperatures around New Zealand have been above average.

El Niño conditions mean west to southwest winds will feature strongly in the months ahead and the predicted sea level pressure pattern reflects this.  Higher than normal pressure extends across Australia and much of New Zealand.  Lower than average pressure is expected to lie south of the country and to the northeast.  The outlook for rain isn’t rosy due to our western ranges blocking a lot of the westerly rain.  June rainfall totals so far haven’t been great, though rain is likely during the last week of the month. The July to September forecasts paint a picture of drier weather and temperatures near average.  Indications are that it will be a strong El Niño event and accompanied by a positive Indian Ocean Dipole in spring.  While these events can be unique in their impacts on the region, together they don’t signal good prospects of rain over spring and summer.

Presidents report June

Future Leaders Shine at 2026 Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower Competition

The future of Hawke’s Bay horticulture is in good hands. Last week, the region’s premier horticultural talent gathered for the 22nd annual Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year competition. Held over two action-packed days (18–19 June), eight outstanding contestants under the age of 30 went head-to-head to showcase their technical knowledge, operational skills and leadership capabilities.   Contestants representing Mr Apple, T&G Global, Ceed, Taylor Corp, Apatu Farms, and Craigmore were tested on their practical and theoretical knowledge of horticulture.  The following day, they come together to form the Leadership Panel. This part of the competition tested communication and strategic thinking under pressure. Each contestant delivered a two-minute speech on a given topic and then answered an impromptu, industry-relevant question asked by the facilitator. The floor was then opened to the audience for further questions.

The Gala Dinner

The competition ended with the HBFA Awards Gala Dinner at the Toitoi events centre. Around 250 industry leaders, sponsors, supporters, and dignitaries packed the room to celebrate the finale of the competition.   The main event of the night was the speech contest, which was the final test for the competitors. Contestants gave a three-minute speech on a specific industry topic they had prepared for in advance. They were judged on their public speaking ability, content, presentation, and delivery. The night concluded with the announcement of all the station winners, leading into the crowning of the overall Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year.

🏆 1st Place Overall: Maddi Sheridan:  Quality and Compliance Manager of Growing at T&G Global.

🥈 2nd Place: Joseph Stenberg:  Block Lead/Assistant Manager at T&G Global.

🥉 3rd Place (Historic Tie): For the first time in the competition’s history, third place was shared jointly by Saffron Riley (Mr Apple’s Brookfields Orchard) and William Horsefield (Orchard Foreman at Ceed)

A big shout out to the remaining contestants Mikayla Franklin (Craigmore), Mary Arkell (Taylor Corp), Georgia McKinnon (T&G Global), and Maicha Slade (Apatu Farms).

By claiming the regional title, Maddi Sheridan goes on to represent Hawke’s Bay at the National – Horticulture New Zealand Young Grower of the Year Grand Final. She will go up against all the other regional winners in Cromwell on 27–28 August 2026.

Hawke’s Bay’s is positioned as a region that invests into young emerging talent. This strength is highlighted by the fact that every winner of the National Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award has come from our region. Hawke’s Bay orchard supervisor Te Rina Joe (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu) was named the winner of the 2026 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award last month in Whangārei – recognising her outstanding achievements and leadership in New Zealand’s horticulture sector. I was up there attending the event and was extremely proud to see Te Rina win the award.

As all our regions young growers’ step into the future, our sector can be rest assured that Hawke’s Bay’s future is in good hands.

A massive thank you goes out to Bex from Planit events and all the executives from the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association who give of their time and resources throughout the year for the good of our industry. A thankyou to all our sponsors who contribute so generously to our events making it possible to put on.

Ngā mihi nui,

Brydon Nisbet

President Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association

President’s Report – May 2026

 With the last of the apple bins now in, the 2026 harvest is officially over for another year.

While picking has finished, post-harvest operations are still under way, including packing, cool storage, and exporting. Shipping logistics and container movements through Napier Port have been flowing well, helping us move our premium fruit efficiently to global markets. A major highlight this season is the newly signed NZ–India Free Trade Agreement. The reduction in apple tariffs from 50% to 25% gives our industry a significant commercial opportunity in a market of 1.4 billion people during our peak export window. This is very positive news for growers and exporters alike.

My sincere thanks go to all orchard crews, shed managers, and packhouse teams for their hard work throughout the season.

 Standing with Our Vegetable Growers: The McCain Plant Closure

On a more serious note, our region is facing a significant challenge following the sudden announcement by Wattie’s and McCain Foods to close their Hastings processing plants. This decision directly affects more than 100 local growers and places our regional vegetable processing capability at serious risk.

We stand alongside Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Will Foley and Hastings Mayor Wendy Schollum, and believe that government should agree to and support an independent, grower-led feasibility study on the viability of keeping the plant open. We stand firmly in solidarity with our affected vegetable-growing peers during this uncertain time. Food security has always been solid a given in NZ, and we need to make sure we protect our land and growers.

HortNZ is calling for nominations for the 2026 Horticulture Industry Awards.

The awards span six categories and celebrate excellence, leadership, service and innovation across the breadth of our sector.

Nominations are invited for six award categories:

• Horticulture Bledisloe Cup
• Horticulture New Zealand President’s Trophy
• Horticulture New Zealand Life Member
• Industry Service Award
• Sustainable Innovation Award
• Manaaki Award

To make a nomination, you must be either an active grower member of HortNZ, an affiliated product group or affiliated grower association.

Nominations close Monday, 15 June. Full award details and nomination form can be found on the HortNZ website here.

New Zealand Horticulture Conference 

Tickets are on sale for the 2026 New Zealand Horticulture Conference in Wellington on 28-29 July.

This year’s conference will once again be delivering high-quality content with strong commercial relevance for growers and the wider horticulture sector.

The programme is divided into three dedicated streams – strategic, RSE and technical – designed to appeal to a wide range of growers, employers, service providers and industry stakeholders.

The conference programme overview is available now; you can view this here.

A dedicated forum for Recognised Seasonal Employers only will be held the day prior to the conference offering the opportunity for targeted engagement.

New Zealand Apples and Pears Conference – 22/23 July

EXPO 2026 has expanded to two full days of insight, connection, and innovation.

Join growers, post-harvest teams, technical specialists, and industry partners for an immersive programme designed to inspire and equip you for the season ahead. EXPO location: QT Hotel (38-54 Lake Esplanade, Queenstown)
Dinner location: Millennium Hotel (Corner Frankton Road & Stanley Street).

Register for EXPO 2026 – Click here for registrations

HBFA Annual Golf Day

What a brilliant day out on the course for our annual HBFA Golf Classic on Friday 15 May

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, entered teams, sponsored holes, and made the day a success. The day was not only about golf but about taking a well-deserved afternoon to step off the orchard blocks, recharge, and catch up with mates after a demanding harvest season.

I want to extend our sincere gratitude to our incredible sponsors, volunteers, all who attended and to the team at HBFA who made this event happen. Congratulations to all our prize winners

Meet Your 2026 Young Fruit Grower Contestants!

Looking ahead to next month, the wait is officially over! We have formally introduced the eight outstanding contestants who will be competing for the title of Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year 2026 on 18–19 June:

• Maddi Sheridan (T&G Global)
• Mikayla Franklin (Craigmore)
• Mary Arkell (Taylor Corp)
• Georgia McKinnon (T&G Global)
• Maicha Slade (Apatu Farms)
• Saffron Riley (Mr Apple)
• William Horsefield (Ceed)
• Joseph Stenberg (T&G Global)

Tickets for the Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 19 June at Toitoi are on sale now. Do not forget to register your team by 17 June for the highly competitive Hurford Parker Tug of War Challenge, taking place on Thursday 18 June at Ranui Field ($1,500 prize pool up for grabs!).

Take care – enjoy some down time and I look forward to seeing as many as possible at out HBFA Young Grower Competition and dinner.

Ngā mihi nui,

Brydon Nisbet

President Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association

April rainfall was well above normal, almost double the month’s average total, but sandwiched between a very dry March and now May. April’s rain left river flows measuring above normal and soil moisture lying above median levels for the time of year. Groundwater levels for the month were mostly near or below normal but that might improve once April’s rain filters through. Daytime temperatures were near average but nights were warm for the time of year. Sea surface temperatures have been above average around most of New Zealand but cooler than average in Hawke Bay.

An El Niño event is expected to develop during the next couple of months and those events typically bring the region a west to southwest flow. Westerlies reduce the likelihood we’ll have above average rainfall because the western ranges help shelter us from storms coming from that direction. Forecasts suggest winter will bring us that west to southwest flow due to higher than normal sea level pressure lying to the west and lower than normal pressure to the east. That pattern leads to predictions of below or near normal winter rainfall and near normal temperatures, tempered by winds having a southerly aspect at times.

It’s great to see the harvest season coming to a close. From everything I’m hearing across the orchards, picking has gone well and the quality looks fantastic. We are now in the thick of packing and exporting, ensuring our amazing produce reaches customers all around the world.

A few weeks back, we dodged a bullet with the cyclone. While it didn’t eventuate into anything major, it was a timely reminder of how susceptible we are as growers to things we cannot control. In saying that the last couple of days have given us plenty of welcomed rain after such a dry March.

As president I sit on the committee for the Napier Port Hawkes Bay Primary Industry Awards. This event was held in early April and was an excellent night of celebrating the primary sector.   It was awesome to see Horticulture do well on the night with the following picking up awards

A Well-Deserved Honour for Chris Herries
A huge congratulations to Chris Herries for taking home the Professional of the Year award Chris has spent more than four decades as a trusted advisor to our region’s growers, bringing a wealth of knowledge that has helped many of us over the years.  Known for his leadership at Horticentre, Chris’s expertise in production systems, biosecurity responses, technical and nutritional advise is second to none, but it’s his personal commitment to supporting local growers that truly sets him apart. Congratulations on this fantastic achievement, Chris.

Orchard Success: Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial Development Ltd
A massive congratulations to Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial Development (NPCDL) for being named the Horticentre Horticulturalist of the Year. It is inspiring to see their 55-hectare Pākuratahi pipfruit orchard at Tangoio recognised for such high performance and forward-thinking management. Tom Keefe (Director at NPCDL) received the award on behalf of the whole team.

Industry Leader of the Year: John Bostock 

A standout highlight for me was seeing John Bostock receive the Hastings District Council Industry Leader Award. As the founder of Bostock New Zealand, John was recognised for his decades of pioneering work in commercial organic horticulture, effectively positioning Hawke’s Bay as a global leader in the sector. From transitioning to organic growing in 1996 to building the country’s largest integrated organic apple operation. He is also a large grower of squash and onions.

“Having spent a decade managing organic orchards for JB between 2002 and 2012, I know this award is a true testament to the tireless work that John and the entire Bostock NZ team put in every day – Congratulations.

We also want to give a special shout-out to orchard supervisor Te Rina Joe, from Ngāti Pāhauwera Commercial Development and Larissa Wooding-Ngata (Ngāti Porou), a foreperson at Craigmore Sustainables in Gisborne, for both becoming finalists for the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award. It’s fantastic to see such talent and dedication within our local growing community, and we look forward to seeing their continued expansion across Northern Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne

Tukituki Water Security Project (Ruataniwha Dam)
There has been significant movement on the Tukituki Water Security Project recently, with the Government announcing an $18 million loan to test its commercial viability. As the project moves toward the Fast-track Approvals process, it offers a glimmer of hope for long-term water security in our region. If it progresses, the scheme could be a gamechanger for our growers, providing the consistent water supply needed to de-risk our orchards and support future expansion.

Events

Keep an eye out on our latest industry events coming up soon

• HBFA Golf Day – Friday 15^th May
• HBFA Young Fruit Grower Competition – 18^th/19^th

Kia kaha

Brydon Nisbet

President Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association

After a wet summer, much drier weather kicked off autumn.  March rainfall was well below normal, with the region getting just 38% of the month’s average and the Heretaunga Plains a mere 14%. River flows were well below average and soil moisture, which was high during summer, pared back to sit near median levels for the time of year.  Groundwater levels remained in good heart at the time of measuring. Air temperatures were average for early autumn so didn’t accelerate dry conditions with super-hot days.

 The tropical cyclone season runs until the end of April and that tropical influence, helped by warmer than average seas around New Zealand, has already left April’s rainfall looking healthy. With an El Niño event expected to develop by spring this year, good moisture stores leading into it would be ideal!   Seasonal forecast models already indicate drier conditions are on the horizon.  Over the next three months, their predicted sea-level pressure pattern is higher than average pressure west of New Zealand, near normal pressure over the country and lower than average pressure to the east.  That gives the region a west to southwest flow, bringing into play the rain shadow effect of our western ranges. Near or below normal rainfall is their favoured outcome and near normal temperatures.  We’ll be keeping a wary eye on the looming El Niño.