Horticulture studies course puts down new roots

At the opening of the Horticulture Precinct at NorthTec were kaumatua Hohepa Rudolph and Fred Tito, horticulture tutor Jamie Hancox and student Jazz Penney. Photo / Supplied

There's a new home for horticulture studies in Northland, thanks to the opening of a purpose-built facility and Horticulture Precinct at the Future Trades Campus in Whangarei.

The precinct is based at the campus in Dyer St and was put together by NorthTec horticultural staff led by Jamie Hancox and Bernadette Vido, with help from students from the horticulture and sustainable rural development programmes.

The precinct has propagation areas, a nursery area, shade house and classroom spaces, as well as implement sheds. There is also an orchard, riparian planting area, vegetable plots and Maori gardens - and it's all right there in the centre of the city.

NorthTec Primary Industries programme leader Andrew McCulloch said the new precinct provided modern facilities and introduced students to industry-standard propagation and nursery facilities.

"It will have a diverse range of uses, and gives our students a taste of the different aspects of horticulture, from fruit production to Maori gardens," he said.

The precinct was officially opened on November 6, with a ceremony attended by staff and students and the planting of a kowhai tree by kaumatua. A colourful mural featuring native tui perching in a kowhai tree, painted by former student Debbie Lomas, was also blessed by kaumatua on the day.

The talents of students continued to shine, as two carvings - a kaitiaki created by sustainable rural development student Reagan Anderson and a pou carved by a group of NorthTec Maori arts students - were also blessed.

The project was launched last year and aimed to turn an industrial site into an oasis of horticultural activity.