“HortNZ provides good value for money. So we invite you to take a look at our figures, think for yourself... if HortNZ wasn’t around to do this work, who would do it? And how much would it cost?”



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Saving Strategy, Education, and Communications costs

Some of the outcomes and benefits to growers are:

Action: Horticulture Industry Strategy

Led the development of the Horticulture Industry Strategy supporting structures that create scale (including HEA and Kiwifruit Regulations). Government more focused on industry issues and see horticulture as being an industry with a positive future. Created a strong independent strategy that supports the retention and strengthening of industry regulatory structures.

Action: Young Grower of the Year
Saving $200,000

Established and continues to run the Young Grower of the Year competition.
  • Promoted, encouraged and developed the on or close to farm/orchard production, business and leadership skills of young people who have chosen careers in horticulture.
  • Positive profile for the industry in the media encourages prospective industry entrants and employees. In 2011 the competition generated 127 positive media reports. Estimated value of the media generated.

Action: Education and Training Scholarships

HortNZ provides 15 to 20 scholarships each year to people studying horticulture. This encourages people to choose horticulture careers and provides a vital early connection to the industry through our annual conference and mentoring programmes.

Action: HortNZ Leadership Programme

Accelerated the leadership development of over 60 growers or employees with over 45% now in key commercial or industry leadership roles.

Action: Careers Promotion Resources

Directly exposed over 3,000 high school students, teachers and career advisors to information on career opportunities to counter the negative and misinformed perception of horticulture and what we have to offer. Developed, and promoted significant and widely used career resources and/or events for schools as well as working closely with Career Services who are the first point of call for hundreds of thousands of school leavers through their website and various activities.

Action: Education and Training
600% increase in number of Fruit and Vegetable trainees

Work by HortNZ and others to reduce the proliferation of qualifications has lead to the Ministry of Education reviewing the qualifications system, resulting in a move to reduce the numbers and the confusion of qualifications and improve their relevancy to industry. This is a work progress.

Worked closely with the Hort ITO to increase the number of people training (National Certificates in Fruit and Vegetable Production) from around 120 in 2006 to over 870 in 2011.

Given that the recent piece of research by AgITO that concluded that for every dollar invested in training the lift in productivity of business can go from $4 in pipfruit to as high as $10-$15 in kiwifruit this will create significant value for growers. In partnership with others (such as NZKGI) we have developed and run specific horticulture programmes such as Better Business Skills. HortNZ has been pivotal in ensuring that horticulture is available in high school as one of the subjects that are examined under “NZ Scholarships”. This help to achieve a higher status to horticulture in schools and therefore attracts talent to our industry .

Action: HortNZ Leadership Programme

Accelerated the leadership development of over 60 growers or employees with over 45% now in key commercial or industry leadership roles.

Action: Orchardist and Grower magazines
Saving $480,000

Publication of the Orchardist and Grower magazines. Independent and comprehensive coverage of industry and technical issues. Based on the subscription cost of $80 pa. (Note the magazines are funded by advertising sales, subscriptions and income from the Vegetable Product Groups and the Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust not the HortNZ levy.)

Action: The HortNZ Conference

Opportunities for growers to network. Raises the profile of the horticulture industry through invitation of keynote speakers and media coverage. Provides a platform for HortNZ key announcements to be made to growers, the media and the wider community. (Note the conference is funded through sponsorship and registrations not HortNZ levy).

Action: Media Relations and comments

Overall industry position is presented to both the public and key stakeholders. Media monitoring ensure the whole industry has early warning of critical issues.

Action: Media Monitoring

Monitor the media for any issues impacting on the industry. Industry organisations receive early warning of any emerging issues.

Action: Weekly Email Newsletter

Keeps growers and others interested in our industry informed of key issues and the work HortNZ is doing.

Action: Affiliated Product Groups meeting co-ordination

Co-ordinating regular meetings of 22 Affiliated Product Groups. Encouraging co-operation and the sharing of information between product groups.

Action: Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL)

HortNZ has championed the issue of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling. As a result this has become a media and political issue with high levels of consumer support. Both major supermarkets have now established policies that require CoOL. Raised public awareness of importance of buying NZ produce.