HB A&P Society General Manager, Brent Linn, presented to HBRC’s Environment and Services Committee on the success of this year’s National Horticultural Field Day. “The 2015 event was noticeably bigger, with 50% more trade exhibits, the largest ever Secondary Schools expo, a sold out Breakfast Seminar Series event and a significantly larger audience from all over New Zealand.” 

HBRC councillors spoke in support of this successful event and how HBRC could further contribute to its growth. “The primary production strength of Hawke’s Bay comes to the fore in this event, and we continue to be a key partner in it, given our focus on land and water management,” says Councillor and Committee Chairman, Rex Graham.

“We will look at how to better integrate Council’s operational work with this growing event,” adds Councillor Graham. “We cross paths in numerous events managed by the Society and both have historic roots in the rural settlement of Hawke’s Bay.”

HBRC is a key sponsor of the National Horticultural Field Day, working with the A&P Society over the past five years to grow and develop this event from humble beginnings as a rural block holder field day and separate horticultural expo, which was led by Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association.

The event is a significant opportunity for HBRC to canvas views and inform people on plains-land related and plan change activities, cropping, land management, the effective use of water, relevant science work and as a means of supporting and developing its primary sector relationships.

The intent is to continue to develop National Horticultural Field Day as an unmissable date on the sector’s annual calendar.