Potatoes New Zealand

Annual General Meeting 2026
2026-08-25 17:30 - 21:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Ashburton Events Centre, 211A Wills Street, Ashburton, Canterbury, 7700, New Zealand
Potatoes New Zealand is delighted to partner with the Horticulture Canterbury Growers Association and Process Vegetables NZ to hold our respective Annual General Meetings (AGM) on Tuesday 25 August at the Ashburton Events Centre.

All growers are encouraged to attend to network with growers, board members and Potatoes New Zealand staff as well as have your say.

After the AGMs there will be a guest speaker and delicious dinner.

Draft Programme – Tuesday 25 August

Time

Activity

Location

5.30pm

Horticulture Canterbury Growers Association AGM

Ashburton Events Centre211A Wills Street

5.45pm

Process Vegetables NZ AGM

Ashburton Events Centre211A Wills Street

6.00pm

Potatoes New Zealand AGM

Ashburton Events Centre211A Wills Street

6.30pm

Guest Speaker:Melissa Moon

Ashburton Events Centre211A Wills Street

7.30pm

Dinner

Ashburton Events Centre211A Wills Street

Announcing Guest Speaker: Two time World Mountain Running champion Melissa Moon

A world champion mountain runner, humanitarian and Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Melissa Moon MNZM has turned extraordinary endurance feats into powerful lessons on resilience, service and the human spirit.Melissa is best known as a long-distance and mountain running star, having won two World Mountain Running Championships, 21 New Zealand athletic titles and becoming a two-time winner of the iconic race up New York’s Empire State Building, conquering 86 floors and 1,576 stairs in an astonishing 12 minutes and 39 seconds. She went on to win the Vertical World Circuit, a global series of races up many of the world’s tallest buildings, cementing her reputation as one of the world’s leading stair and mountain running athletes.In recognition of her contribution to sport and the community, Melissa was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2021 for services to athletics and charitable causes. This honour reflects not only her achievements on the track and in the mountains, but her commitment to using those achievements to make a difference in people’s lives.

Melissa’s running journey has always been intertwined with a deep sense of purpose. In 2007 she joined the Blue Planet Run, a 95-day relay around the world designed to raise awareness of the global lack of safe drinking water. As part of the team, she covered approximately 25,000 kilometres across 16 countries, wearing through five pairs of shoes as she ran through extremes ranging from 45-degree heat in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to battling swarms of horse flies in Siberia. The experience pushed her to physical and emotional limits and gave her profound insight into burnout, recovery and what it truly means to endure.

Her outstanding performances and character have been recognised widely. Melissa has been named New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year, Athletics New Zealand Athlete of the Year, and New Zealand Universities Sportsperson of the Year, and has been inducted into the Wellington Sports Legends Hall of Fame. In 2008 she was honoured globally with the JCI Outstanding Young Person of the World award, recognising both her sporting achievements and her community service.Blending elite sport, endurance, motivational insight, inspiring stories, resilience, charity and philanthropy, and a deep focus on wellbeing and community, Melissa Moon’s story is a compelling reminder that true success is measured not just by medals and titles, but by the lives we touch along the way.

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Annual General Meeting 2026 Registration

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Register Your Interest: Grower Trip to Europe 2026
2026-09-01 08:00 - 2026-09-12 17:00
An unforgettable, industry focused European experience is taking shape and you’re invited.Potatoes New Zealand is planning an exclusive Europe Grower Trip in September 2026, bringing together a group of industry participants for a unique learning and networking opportunity.

This carefully curated tour will immerse participants in global best practice, cutting-edgetechnology, and future-focused research, culminating in attendance at Potato Europe — one of the world’s most influential potato industry events.

What to Expect

Visits to leading seed companies and progressive European growers

Behind-the-scenes access to state-of-the-art storage, processing, and packing facilities

Exposure to innovation and research shaping the future of potato production

Opportunities to build valuable international connections

Attendance at Potato Europe, where global leaders showcase the next era of the industry

Indicative Itinerary

DATELOCATION/ACTIVITYTuesday 1 SeptemberDepart New Zealand2-8 SeptemberAmsterdam – Arrival and Industry visitsEmmeloord – Seed, research and innovation hubGermany – Grower, storage, processing and packing visits9-10 SeptemberGermany – Potato EuropeSaturday 12 SeptemberReturn to New Zealand

Estimated Investment*

$6,600 per person – Twin Share

$8,500 per person – Single

*Indicative pricing only. Final costs will be confirmed once interest is assessed and bookings are secured.

Why Attend?

Gain insights you can apply directly to your business

Stay ahead of emerging global trends

Learn from the best in the world

Be part of a high-value, industry-focused experience

Register Your Interest

Register your interest before 31 January to be considered for this exceptional European Grower Trip and help shape the final itinerary.

With limited spaces available, please register your interest today.

Spring Summit 2026: Research Update
2026-09-17 09:00 - 16:00 | Te Ahikawariki / Vegetable Industry Centre of Excellence, 49 Cronin Road, Pukekohe, Auckland, 2676, New Zealand
Join growers, researchers and industry leaders to explore the latest vegetable research, trial results and innovations.

Attend the Te Ahikawariki Spring Summit 2026, a one-day event bringing together growers, researchers, agronomists, industry organisations, technology providers and sector leaders to share the latest developments in New Zealand vegetable research and innovation.

Building on the conversations and demonstrations showcased at the 2026 Vegetables Big Day Out, the Spring Summit provides an opportunity to revisit projects at completion and hear the results, learnings and practical outcomes emerging from trial work. Alongside these updates, the programme will feature a broader range of research and development activities being undertaken across the vegetable industry.

Attendees will hear directly from project teams, researchers and industry partners as they present findings from trials, demonstration projects and innovation programmes. The day will combine indoor presentations with outdoor demonstrations, providing both technical insights and practical examples of research in action.

Topics will cover a range of areas relevant to commercial vegetable production, including crop management, sustainability initiatives, productivity improvements, biosecurity challenges and future research opportunities.

The Spring Summit is designed to encourage discussion, knowledge sharing and collaboration across the industry. Whether you are looking to stay informed about current research, explore new ideas for your business, or connect with others working across the sector, this event offers a valuable opportunity to engage with the people and projects helping shape the future of New Zealand vegetable production.

Who should attend?

Vegetable growers and farm managers

Researchers and research organisations

Agronomists and technical advisers

Industry suppliers and service providers

Students and emerging industry professionals

Government, extension and industry representatives

What to expect

Networking over lunch and afternoon tea

Research presentations and project updates

Results from trials and demonstrations

Outdoor field demonstrations

Opportunities to connect with researchers and industry leaders

Potatoes New Zealand Board Meeting
2026-09-24 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-19 08:00 - 17:00
Potatoes New Zealand Board members are committed to developing and driving the potato industry in New Zealand. They regularly meet to progress the strategic direction for the membership and best practices throughout industry.

World Potato Congress
2026-10-26 08:00 - 2026-10-30 17:00 | Sawela Lodges, The Mirage Tower 3, Sixth Floor Chiromo, Waiyaki Way, Westlands, Kenya
The World Potato Congress brings together the global potato community every two years. Kenya 2026 will focus on sustainable agriculture, innovation, and building partnerships for a food-secure future.

Sustainability Focus

Exploring sustainable potato farming practices and climate-resilient solutions for global food security.

Global Network

Connect with 1000+ delegates from over 60 countries, including farmers, researchers, and industry leaders.

Innovation Showcase

Discover cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough research in potato cultivation and processing

Market Insights

Gain valuable insights into global potato markets, trade opportunities, and emerging trends.

Why Potatoes Matter?

Potatoes are the third most important food crop for human consumption after rice and wheat, feeding over a billion people globally. As we face climate challenges and food security concerns, potato research and innovation have never been more critical.

Sustainable farming practices and climate resilience

Nutritional enhancement and food security

Advanced breeding and biotechnology

Global market trends and economic impact

Who Attends?

Farmers & Producer Groups

Seed Companies & Input Suppliers

Processors, Retailers & Exporters

Scientists, Researchers & Breeders

Government & Development Agencies

Investors & Tech Innovators

Organic grower policy catch-up
2026-11-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Organic growers are invited to a Horticulture New Zealand quarterly catch-up.

When | Thursday, 19 NovemberTime | 12pmWhere | online via Zoom. Please register in advance here.

Topics will include the next round of Ministry for Primary Industries consultations on the Organic Standard Notices and other relevant policy updates, opportunities/challenges for organics are top of mind for growers.

Potatoes New Zealand's Birthday
2027-04-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2028-04-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2029-04-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2030-04-17 08:00 - 17:00
Potatoes New Zealand became incorporated on 17 April 2012 (Incorporated Society Number 2559200),

Representing growers’ interests, Potatoes New Zealand is committed to listening to, enabling and promoting better outcomes for the New Zealand potato industry.

International Day of Potato
2027-05-30 00:00 - 23:59, 2028-05-30 00:00 - 23:59
In 2024, we celebrate the first International Day of Potato by focusing on the contribution of the potato to the lives of producers and consumers with the theme: Harvesting diversity, feeding hope. #InternationalDayOfPotato

The potato represents one of the most important contributions of the Andean region to the entire world, as it is one of the five main food crops consumed in the world, contributing to food security.
