Female Horticulture NZ group members sought

Taking part in the discussion then were (from left) HortNZ policy analyst Eve Williams and HortNZ's natural resources and environment manager Angela Halliday. Photo: Supplied

Nominations for membership of a new national Women In Horticulture leadership group are being sought as part of the group's establishment process.

Following a session during the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) conference in July, a mandate to set up the group was given.

HortNZ policy analyst Eve Williams said those who wished to put their name forward for membership of the group had until noon on November 2 to get their nominations in.

''The group will operate independently of HortNZ, although the industry body will provide administrative support,'' she said.

''The strength of us as an industry body is we can connect people and organisations.''

The group would be open to all those involved within the horticulture industry, including men.

Nominations for 10 inaugural members are being sought, but once the group has been established it will develop its own Terms of Reference, elect officers and decide how many people it requires.

''The group will drive itself,'' Ms Williams said.

She said while there were other regional groups for women in horticulture, which were region specific, the leadership group would not supercede them. Rather, it would work at a national level.

She expected the first meeting of members to be held in Wellington in early December.

The idea for the leadership group was first discussed following the release of a report by market research group UMR during the 2017 conference.

The report - commissioned by Ms Williams and HortNZ's then natural resources and environment manager Angela Halliday - identified the lack of women in leadership and governance roles within the horticulture industry as a ''constraint'' for the sector.

''There needed to be improved pathways to leadership to ensure better representation on the top tiers of industry management,'' the report said.

''That research resonated with a lot of people,'' Ms Williams said.

For more, information email Christi.Britton@hortnz.co.nz.