New Zealand Horticulture Conference 2026 to be held in Wellington in July

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Kate Scott says the Horticulture Conference and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Conference will be an integrated two-day event this year.

More than 900 growers, employers, service providers and industry stakeholders are expected to gather in Wellington in July for the 2026 New Zealand Horticulture Conference.

Tickets are now on sale for the two-day event, hosted by Horticulture New Zealand at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 28-29.

“The conference will once again deliver high-quality content with strong commercial relevance for growers and the wider horticulture sector,” Hort NZ chief executive Kate Scott said.

“The conference promises to be stimulating and informative, featuring horticulture-focused speakers and sessions with real industry and business value.”

Scott said that, once again, the Horticulture Conference and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Conference would be an integrated two-day event.

“I know from the feedback we received following the conference last year that this unified format will prove very popular, and Tākina is a fantastic venue for bringing the sector together.”

The conference will feature three dedicated streams – strategic, RSE and technical – designed to appeal to a wide range of attendees.

A dedicated forum for Recognised Seasonal Employers and countries involved in the scheme will be held the day before the conference, providing the opportunity for targeted engagement.

Scott said the event would also celebrate excellence across the sector through the Horticulture Industry Awards.

“As an industry, we love recognising our people.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to horticulture.”

Horticulture New Zealand organised the conference on behalf of the more than 4300 growers it represents.

The Horticulture New Zealand Annual General Meeting will also be held during the conference.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Horticulture NZ’s website.

– Supplied by Horticulture New Zealand