Far North news in brief: Horticulture scholarships; Island fundraiser and charity shopping

Kiwifruit is one of Northland’s largest horticulture industries and people can apply for Leadership Programme scholarship to help them become horticulture leaders.

Horticulture scholarships

Far North folk who want to be leaders in the horticulture industry can apply for scholarships from Horticulture New Zealand’s (HortNZ) 2026 Leadership Programme. HortNZ is offering 12 scholarships for the programme, which is run in partnership with Rural Leaders and focuses on supporting emerging leadership in the sector. The programme will be delivered in two phases in August and October and includes all participants developing a personal plan for moving forward in leadership. There is a maximum of 16 participants. Applications close on June 28 at www.hortnz.co.nz.

Island fundraiser

Paihia community fitness centre Outfit North raised $2000 for Project Island Song during an initiative called Active April, dedicated to helping people build meaningful habits that support their health and wellbeing. Outfit North owner Nadine Nel said each gym member chose a personal challenge including walking 100km, daily pull-ups or push-ups, or committing to daily meditation. Profits from making T-shirts also went to the fundraiser.

Charity shopping

Far North charities will receive vital funds from shoppers at two Far North stores. Four Square Russell and Four Square Cooper’s Beach have just launched a trial called “HereforCommunity”, where shoppers receive a token for every $50 spent and can choose which local organisation to support. At the end of each month, the group with the most tokens receives a donation from the stores. This month, Four Square Russell has chosen to support Russell School, Te Kura o Waikare and the Russell Fire Brigade, and Four Square Cooper’s Beach has chosen to support Donna Doolittle’s Animal Rescue, Mangonui Volunteer Fire Brigade and Mangonui Community Patrol.

Business event

Kaitāia Business Association is hosting a Work Reimagined - Business Networking Event for business leaders in the town next week. Running a business today means juggling people, culture, and constant change, and now AI is part of the mix too. For many business owners, this can feel like a lot to take in. So how do we make it easier? KBA’s practical business breakfast will explore how to better support your people and use technology to move your business forward. Keynote speakers are Paulette Scrooby (NorthChamber), Jamie Rosemergy (MSD Tai Tokerau) and Meg Smith (Northland Inc). It’s at Peekaboo Backyard Eatery, from 8am to 10am on May 21.

Blood changes

NZ Blood Service has changed how it asks donors about recent sexual activity. NZ Blood Service says this is a fairer, more consistent way of assessing potential risk for some infections that affect blood donation, and it brings NZ in line with many international blood services, including in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. For more info go to www.nzblood.co.nz.