James Torrie wins 2026 Gisborne region Young Grower title

James Torrie has won the 2026 Gisborne region Young Grower title.

James, a crop manager with Wi Pere Trust, pitched his skills against five fellow contestants to take the title on 11 June.

He will now go on to compete against six other regional winners in the national Young Grower of the Year competition in Cromwell on August 27-28.

James, aged 28, was introduced to the sector through a casual job while at high school in Gisborne. After gaining a degree in sports and exercise, prescription and training, he returned to the sector.

He joined Wi Pere Trust as a casual worker five years ago and is now in his second full year in management. In September, he was also recognised with the Emerging Leader award from Citrus New Zealand.

“I have been fortunate to have been elevated quite quickly up the chain of command,” he says.

“I like the diversity of the crops. Every orchard is different. I look after four orchards - apples, blueberries, citrus and nursery operations.

“I also really enjoy working with so many different people in the sector. We have a lot of backpackers from around the world working here and it is great hearing their stories. We even had a nuclear engineer.”

James says he’s learned a tremendous amount on the job and is also planning to undertake further study in horticulture in the future.

It was his second time competing in the Gisborne Young Grower competition.

“It was really good. The other competitors were great, we were a tight unit and it was good to meet up with people I had competed with before.

“I think the competition is important because it is really good to be tested on your skills across the board. Some parts I found easier because it is stuff I do day to day, and other parts harder. It gives you confidence in what you are doing well at and highlights areas that you might need more experience in.”

James’ advice for young people considering a career in the sector is to give it a go.

“It’s not just what you see driving past an orchard with people picking and pruning. There are so many other pathways you can take.

“Look at me, I came into it without a background in horticulture and kept turning up every day and worked my way up. I’d say to people coming into the industry, ‘ask questions’. There’s no one answer in horticulture, so keep asking questions and that will get you further through the door.

“I still have a lot to learn. I want to carry on learning as much as I can to get a better understanding and see where that path takes me in the sector.”

Runner up was Awatea Jobe, who is an orchard leading hand with Craigmore Sustainables across the Glenpark and Sunpark orchards at Pātūtahi and Te Karaka.

Third place went to Sirius Tamati Smith from Wairoa, who is a foreman with Tātau Tātau Horticulture, leading crews and overseeing daily orchard operations.

The competition celebrates the success of young people in the industry as well as encouraging others to consider a career in horticulture.

Regional organisers host and run the regional competitions  independently, with Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) hosting the final in a different part of the country each year.

Entry is open to both commercial fruit and vegetable growers from across the regions, up to the age of 30.

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott said the competitions are a highlight of the year for growers and do much to raise awareness of the high level of skill of young people in the industry and the many career opportunities it offers.

“The regional organisers put in a huge amount of their time, expertise, energy and passion for the industry to make the Young Grower regional and national competitions happen. We could not do it without them.

“They do it to recognise and celebrate the very high calibre of young people we have working in the industry and to demonstrate to others the many pathways horticulture offers into a wide range of interesting and rewarding careers.”