The need to fill thousands of new jobs in the horticulture industry will be a significant focus of the BNZ National Horticultural Field Day at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds Tomoana in Hastings next month.
Organisers say the opportunities, and the need, have never before been so obvious since the first field day in an ENZA coolstore at Whakatu in 2007. Then it was known as the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers Association's ICE Expo - ICE standing for Innovation, Celebration, Education.
Billed by association chairperson Lesley Wilson at the time as a "mini farm Fieldays", it was a strictly horticulture version of the Fieldays at Mystery Creek. It was hit by bad weather in the first year, but after just two years was moved to the Hawke's Bay A and P Society's showgrounds because of the need for more space and facilities.
It takes another step forward this year with the naming sponsorship of BNZ, which has supported the field day's breakfast and seminar series.
It goes much further than financial support, with bank chief economist Tony Alexander again on the speaking roster.