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 15th May
- HBFA Young Fruit Grower Competition – 18th/19th
Kia kaha
Brydon Nisbet
President Hawkes Bay Fruit Growers Association
