NZPPI CONFERENCE

NZ Plant Producers Conference and Awards Dinner 2026

Save the date! The NZ Plant Producers Conference and Awards Dinner 2026 will be held 20-21 May at Karaka Pavilion in Auckland, bringing together plant producers, retailers, suppliers, educators, researchers and more.

At our 2026 conference we're celebrating NZPPI’s tenth anniversary. Don’t miss this unique celebration of our industry’s success and the collective effort behind it.

We have listened to our members and made this our largest and most exciting conference yet. The compact, fast-paced and fun two-day programme includes plenty of social events, field trips and networking opportunities.

At our industry 'Night at the Races' Awards Dinner at the premium Karaka Pavilion venue, we'll be galloping through an unforgettable evening and having a bet on the horses as well.

This year we are including the Young Plant Producer of the Year competition and awards ceremony in the conference programme – a special edition as the popular event marks 30 years of supporting up-and-coming talent.

Registration opens in early 2026. Make sure you don't miss conference programme details as they are finalised. Email us at office@nzppi.co.nz to join our mailing list.

Conference 2024

Our Conference 2024 was held in Hamilton at the Novotel Tainui.

With the theme Innovation and Integrity, our conference on May 15 and 16 2024 explored the challenges and opportunities facing plant producers in Aotearoa today and in the future. We held a highly successful Innovation Day on Wednesday 15 that included tours and presentations at Annton Nursery in Cambridge and at Greengrower in Ruakura. In the evening we held our industry and the conference itself was held on Thursday 16. Download our conference overview and programme below or visit our dedicated conference website.

Overview of NZPPI Conference Event 2024.pdf

NZPPI Innovation Day and Conference 2024 Programme.pdf

Conference 2023

Our 2023 Conference was held on May 24 and May 25 in Auckland.

More than 100 attendees joined us for an unforgettable event that brought together the brightest minds and most innovative thinkers in the industry. We had a one day conference at the Sudima Auckland Airport on the 24th followed by our awards dinner then a nursery bus tour on the 25th.

Check out the 2023 programme.

Conference 2022

Our Conference 2022 and Awards Dinner was held at the Napier War Memorial Centre on October 12 and 13. Our lineup of fantastic speakers included:

Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor Dame Juliet Gerrard
Professor & Ellison Chair of Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M University, Dr Charlie Hall (via Zoom)
Horticultural scientist and Associate Professor at Lincoln University, Clive Kaiser (speaker and workshop facilitator)
Circular Economy specialist, Sandy Botterill
Samuel Williamson of data productivity company, Knode
Executive Director, Trust Alliance Klaeri Schelhowe
Hawke's Bay Regional Council Right Tree Right Place project lead Michael Bassett-Foss
Michael Jamieson, Programme Director at Te Uru Rākau NZ Forest Service
Nathan Hewson, Managing Director of Advanced Horticulture
Industry leader and agribusiness leadership developer, Sue Pickering (workshop facilitator)
Opera singer and founder of Prima Volta, Anna Pierard (business breakfast speaker)

The conference and awards dinner was MC'd by the ebullient Karen O'Leary aka Wellington Paranormal Detective O'Leary.

Our Awards dinner was an emotional event with the late Carol Fraser being awarded an NZPPI Life Membership (accepted on her behalf by her sons) and the announcement of the Fraser Industry Training Award, which was presented to our 2021 Young Achiever Dani McBride. Other Life Memberships went to Carol's husband Peter Fraser, Malcolm Woolmore and Vince Wylaars.

NZPPI Conference Programme.pdf (designed to be printed onto A4 and folded to A5)

A huge thanks to our Conference Partner Daltons for their support in making our conference happen. We also thank our other generous sponsors, Egmont Commercial, Te Uru Rākau, ICL, Custom Mix, Advanced Hort, Knode, HortBase, Egmont Seeds, Plant Pass, KiwiFlora, PrimeHort and Norwood.