Tauranga Boys College plants kiwifruit plot to 'supercharge' students' interests

Year 10 student Corbin Paterson. Photo: George Novak

It's only 15 by 6 metres but a new block of kiwifruit planted at a local school has been labelled a "game changer".

It is hoped the new plot at Tauranga Boys College will help "supercharge" students' interests in horticulture and encourage young people to take up careers in the industry.

The school's head of agricultural & horticultural science Ivan Davie said it was a way to connect young people with the industry early on and build student knowledge about growing practices.

"These guys are the future. If we can connect them to the industry sooner... we are more likely to get them into the industry in a smarter way."

Davie said the mix of six gold and red kiwifruit plants equated to just under 1 per cent of a hectare canopy but described it as a "game changer" for students.

While students had visited orchards as part of their studies, Davie said this took "a load of time, cost and planning".

"You get a better sense of commercial horticulture but within a school setting. That is what makes it unique."

Hands-on learning about growing kiwifruit would also "supercharge" students' interest in the subject.

"You can see the development in real-time," he said.

"As much as you try to teach them in a classroom, it's nothing like being able to smell it, see it and touch it."

He said the project was a "slow burn", with a commercial kiwifruit harvest expected in roughly four years. However, some plants would fruit next year.

"While we are going to try and get as much product as we can, there is also going to be space for students to learn about best practice and get things wrong."

Tauranga Boys College agriculture & horticulture teacher Ivan Davie alongside Year 10 students at the kiwifruit block. Photo: George Novak

He said a decision about how income from fruit would be used would be made "further down the line".

That's why Bay of Plenty orchard developers Southern Cross Horticulture is supporting the project, paying for the kiwifruit plants, building supplies and labour. Commercial manager Klemen Mrak said the project cost between $5000 and $7000.

"Because it is such a small project, and we know it is going to be used for a long time it was really something interesting for us to get involved in."

Southern Cross Horticulture chief executive Andrew Dunstan said they made the call to sponsor the orchard to help "raise awareness" about industry opportunities with young people.

"It was just another opportunity to help get people's interest piqued by horticulture. We need that because they are the future of kiwifruit."

Dunstan said the long-term goal was to "get people interested" in working in the industry and studying horticultural science after high school.

He said while the kiwifruit block was on a "micro-scale" it would help inform students of the work needed through all cycles of a kiwifruit season.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc chief executive Colin Bond supported initiatives that raised awareness of industry pathways.

He said there were other schools in the Bay of Plenty that also grew kiwifruit, but this was not always possible.

NZKGI connected students with orchards and businesses to visit, helping encourage careers in the industry.

"The intention is to widen students' perception of the industry beyond the traditional seasonal work of picking and packing, to show this is a high-value industry with a wide range of exciting careers available in business, technology, science as well as production," he said.

Zespri said it had provided a licence for these plants on an "educational basis". The fruit would not be sold commercially.