Congratulations to the NZ Young Plant Producer of the Year 2026 finalists! This year’s competition promises to be an exceptional event, with an impressive group of finalists and a special milestone celebration of 30 years of Young Plant Producer.
A strong field of entrants from across the country made judging highly competitive, with four finalists selected from a very high calibre pool of young professionals working across the plant production sector.
With nursery businesses facing significant challenges, it’s very encouraging for the future to see our industry attracting such talent and dedication in our next generation of leaders.
The four NZ Young Plant Producer of the Year 2026 finalists are:
- Michael Blair, Tharfield Nursery, Bay of Plenty
- Clayton Hart, Rainbow Park Nurseries, Auckland
- Bianca Kitchin, Plant Hawke’s Bay
- Matt Loan, Southern Woods Nursery, Christchurch
Learn more about the competition and the finalists at www.youngplantproducer.co.nz.
The competition will take place at Karaka on 20-21 May as part of the NZ Plant Producers Conference and Awards Dinner. Attendees are invited to come along, support the finalists, and be there when the 2026 winner is announced. Registration is required to attend.
Expert judges and mentors are ready to ensure candidates have the best opportunities to demonstrate their skills and knowledge of business operations, plant identification and propagation, biosecurity, production technology and more.
Special thanks to Horticentre Charitable Trust for their ongoing commitment in sponsoring NZ Young Plant Producer of the Year. Their support plays a significant role in making the competition possible.
This year’s conference includes a special session to mark 30 years of Plant Producer of the Year (formerly Young Achiever) as an incubator of talent in the plant production industry. The panel showcases past contestants that have continued on to develop successful businesses and careers.
Join the NZ Plant Producers Conference and Awards Dinner by registering at: www.nzppiconference.co.nz