As we move into March, many across Aotearoa are still feeling the effects of recent weather events. Our thoughts are with the growers, families and communities who have been impacted. Challenging seasons remind us just how resilient and connected our industry is, and how important it is that we continue to support one another.
Potatoes New Zealand is here for our growers. Please reach out to the team at Potatoes New Zealand if you need any assistance.
Stay up to date with what is happening across New Zealand’s potato industry in this newsletter.
Potatoes New Zealand
WEBINAR: CEO Update – The Year Ahead
Watch the CEO Update with Kate Trufitt as she outlines the insights and direction shaping 2026 — a year of opportunity, focus and forward momentum for our sector. Kate shares the priorities guiding our work, the challenges we are preparing for, and the initiatives designed to keep growers informed, engaged and supported throughout the year.
This update is part of our commitment to clear communication and strong industry engagement, ensuring our growers, partners and stakeholders have the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate the year ahead.
Winners Announced – Valentine’s Day Promotion
Love is in the air… and so is the crunch!
Congratulations to our five wonderful winners in the Valentine’s Day Promotion from Heartland Potato Chips and Potatoes New Zealand. Our judges were truly touched by the creativity, care, and love poured into every entry. Thank you to everyone who shared a little piece of their heart with us.
Each winner will receive a box of delicious Heartland Potato Chips to enjoy — a small token of appreciation for the joy you brought to this celebration of all things love and potatoes.
Our heartfelt winners are:
- Briseis Fine, Christchurch – The simple joy of finding a potato heart in a harvest.
- Clare Connolly, Temuka – Three beautiful potato hearts, when one is not enough.
- David Lynch, Christchurch – A charming potato flower, blooming with creativity.
- Jacqui Firmston, Auckland – A tender and thoughtful potato haiku.
- Sonali Bhattarcharjee, Lower Hutt – A lovely pairing of potatoes and flowers.
Thank you for sharing your love, your imagination, and your Valentine’s spirit.
Potatoes New Zealand/Horticulture Canterbury Growers Society
Annual General Meeting and Grower Dinner
Potatoes New Zealand is delighted to partner with the Horticulture Canterbury Growers Society to hold our respective Annual General Meetings (AGM) on Tuesday 25 August – 5pm 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 on important matters arising.
After the respective AGMs, there will be Guest Speaker: Melissa Moon followed by a delicious dinner.
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.
SAVE THE DATE: Agronomy Summit 2026
Planning is well underway for this year’s Agronomy Summit, a key event bringing together growers, agronomists, researchers and industry partners from across Aotearoa. The Summit is an opportunity to share insights, explore emerging challenges, and discuss the innovations shaping the future of potato production – all to strengthen our growing future.
With weather variability, shifting market pressures and evolving on‑farm practices, this gathering is more important than ever. We encourage all growers and agronomists to join Potatoes New Zealand for a day of learning, collaboration and practical takeaways to support a resilient and productive season ahead.
More details, including the full programme and registration information, will be shared soon. We look forward to seeing you there.
Agronomy Summit 2026
Thursday 6 August
Pukekohe Golf Club
Get in on the Action – Sponsorship Opportunities Are Open
Sponsorship for the Agronomy Summit is open, and it is the perfect moment to put your brand front and centre. This is your chance to connect with growers, decision‑makers and industry leaders in a setting designed for real impact.
Whether you want to boost visibility, launch something new, or strengthen your presence in the sector, we have options to match your goals. If your organisation is ready to step up and be part of something big, we are happy to talk.
UPCOMING WEBINAR: Beyond the Forecast: Understanding New Zealand’s Weather
In this webinar, you will learn about New Zealand weather: key drivers as well as reliable weather information sources to support informed decision-making on the farm.
New Zealand’s weather is shaped by its maritime location, rugged terrain and mid-latitude position, creating frequent variability and strong regional contrasts.
Westerlies dominate, bringing fronts and lows from the Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean, while highs deliver calmer periods. Summers are warm and drier in the east, autumn is mild with increasing rain, winters are cool with alpine snow and inland frosts, and spring is windy and changeable.
Large-scale climate drivers add complexity: El Niño strengthens westerlies and dries the north and east, La Niña brings warmer, wetter conditions to those regions, the MJO influences short-term rainfall and tropical activity, and the SAM affects how often highs or lows sit over the country.
Geography amplifies these patterns, with the Southern Alps creating sharp rainfall contrasts and the country’s long, narrow shape exposing it to rapid weather shifts.
Presented by Chester Lampkin, Meteorologist for Earth Sciences New Zealand.
Website Spotlight – Youth
The potato industry in New Zealand is full of opportunities for young people who want to make a difference in food production, sustainability, and innovation.
From growing and harvesting to research and technology, this sector is vital to our economy and our communities.
Industry
International Day of Potato: Celebrating a Month of Delicious Recipes
Saturday 30 May
The International Day of Potato on 30 May is a chance to recognise the global importance of a crop that feeds billions and supports rural communities around the world. The United Nations notes that potatoes contribute to nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and economic opportunity, thanks to their adaptability and low environmental footprint. In New Zealand, the day also highlights the work of our dedicated growers and the role potatoes play in our food system, from reliable production to their place in everyday Kiwi meals.
Potatoes New Zealand is marking the occasion by celebrating throughout the entire month of May with a ‘recipe a day’ showcase. Each day will feature a new way to enjoy locally grown potatoes, offering simple inspiration for families and home cooks, while building momentum toward the 30 May celebration. The month long focus is a reminder of how versatile, nourishing, and culturally significant the mighty potato remains both here in Aotearoa and around the world.
Let’s celebrate the crop that feeds millions and powers performance in our industry: POTATOES!
International Women’s Day and International Year of the Woman Farmer
International Women’s Day offers a powerful moment to recognise the women whose leadership, skill, knowledge and resilience shape our primary industries every day.
With 2026 also marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Potatoes New Zealand is proud to celebrate and acknowledge women who drive innovation, community, and the industry forward.
During the first week of March Potatoes New Zealand will be profiling remarkable women from across the potato industry—growers, researchers, agronomists, business leaders, and emerging talent—whose contributions strengthen the future of our food system and inspire the next generation.
MG Trust Grower Education Fund
The MG Charitable Trust (MG Trust) grower education fund has been created to support current growers and/or their employees to attend programs that enhance their skills and knowledge. In 2026, the MG Trust is offering the opportunity for growers to apply for courses across four tiers (covering approximately 80% of the course fees):
- Rabobank Farm Managers Programme (two places)
- Rabobank Executive Development Programme
- Mayfield Governance Programme
- Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme (allocated)
In addition to supporting grower education, the MG Trust is investing in future generations through providing funding support the secondary school programme, Agribusiness in Schools. For enquiries and applications, email: ztgehfg@zttebhc.pb.am
UPCOMING WEBINAR: Biostimulant Products: Cutting through the noise
Providing a clear overview of biological products, with a focus on biostimulants.
What these products are (and are not) will be explained, and where they typically sit in vegetable systems.
The session will also cover the regulatory landscape and Fertilizer Australia’s Biostimulant Code of Practice, helping growers understand levels of assurance and what to look for in the marketplace.
This webinar is designed to help growers and advisors make informed, confident decisions about biological products.
NZ Grower Magazine
NZGrower & Orchardist stands as New Zealand’s leading resource for our horticulture sector, and Potatoes New Zealand is proud to support it.
The magazine reaches levy-paying commercial growers across the country, keeping our potato community informed, connected, and inspired. Each month, it lands where real work happens — in farmgate letterboxes, on packhouse smoko tables, and in the research labs where the future of our industry is being shaped.
It’s a publication that grows alongside us, reflecting the dedication, innovation, and resilience of New Zealand’s growers.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Health and Safety Legislation Change
Health and Safety legislation is up for change. Minister Brooke van Velden’s Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill now goes to the Education and Workforce Select Committee and will be open for public submissions.
The suggestion from the legislation change is that this will reduce the ‘bureaucratic and financial burden on businesses associated with complying with regulations’.
Rural Support
For many across New Zealand, 2026 has begun with severe and unsettled weather. With warnings and states of emergency in place in some regions, we know this has been a stressful and uncertain time for many rural families.
Rural Support is here to help. If you need practical help or simply someone to talk to, call Rural Support on 0800 787 254.
For relevant updates visit:
When an adverse event strikes, focus on safety first – then protect your property, livestock, and livelihood.
Events
Vegetables Big Day Out 2026 – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 5 March 2026 | 9am | Free Entry
Vegetables Big Day Out is back for 2026 — and the response has been incredible with this year’s event being officially sold out.
Attendees can look forward to a full day packed with insights, innovation and connection for vegetable growers, including:
- Hot topics for indoor and outdoor cropping
- An international keynote speaker
- AgTech demonstrations
- Research results, expert panels and in-field trials
- A bustling tradeshow with networking for growers, researchers and industry partners
With all tickets now allocated, we’re excited to welcome a full house for what’s shaping up to be one of the standout events of the year.
Young Grower of the Year – Entries are Open
Entries are now open for Young Grower of the Year, and we’re encouraging the bright, capable young people across our potato and wider horticulture sector to step forward. This is a chance to stretch yourself, show the industry what you can do, and grow your confidence, skills and professional network along the way.
If someone in your team has that spark — the drive, curiosity and commitment that marks a future leader — give them the encouragement they need to enter. Sometimes a quiet word of support is all it takes to help someone back themselves.
The competition celebrates the talent, passion and hard work shaping the next generation of New Zealand growers. It’s about recognising the people who will carry our industry forward.
Let’s back our young growers and champion the future of New Zealand horticulture together.
2026 Dates
- May 15 – Pukekohe
- May 22 – Central Otago
- June 11 – Gisborne
- June 18 & 19 – Hawkes Bay
- June 19 – Bay of Plenty and Nelson
- June 25 – Canterbury
In 2026, the fresh produce industry will gather at the Adelaide Convention Centre from Monday 1 June to Thursday 4 June for the premier Australia and New Zealand horticulture event. The trade show will showcase the latest products, services and technologies shaping the sector, alongside insights in communications and market intelligence.
Hort Connections 2026 delivers four days of learning, networking and celebration, bringing the entire fresh produce community together under one roof.
13th World Potato Congress
26 – 30 October 2026
Sawela Lodges, Naivasha, 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.
View the events calendar
Find out about the horticulture industry events and activities that are currently happening.
Weather
National Weather Outlook
Weather Watch
Weather Watch brings you the latest New Zealand forecasts weekdays.
NIWA outlook for rain
NIWA outlook for dryness/drought
NIWA seasonal forecast for next 3 months
