The NZPPI Conference was held last week at the Karaka Pavillion in Auckland on 20-21 May 2026.
As always, it was a valuable couple of days connecting with growers, suppliers, and the future stars of horticulture. There was plenty of discussion around current industry challenges, along with fresh ideas and practical thinking on moving the plant production industry forward.
Innovation on display
We had the Da Ros TV5 Bagging Machine switched on, attracting strong interest from growers looking at ways to improve productivity and consistency in their operations.
Key features of the TV5 include:
- Large 3000L hopper
- Soil output of 250 litres per minute
- Suitable for filling pots from 10-40cm diameter
- Single or double discharge outlet options
- Adjustable vibrating table for consistent soil compaction
- Efficient return system for excess soil
It was encouraging to see ongoing interest in nursery automation as growers continue exploring ways to reduce labour strain while increasing scale and quality outcomes.
Nursery tours and fresh thinking
The conference field trips were another highlight, and we were fortunate to attend the visit to Rainbow Park Nurseries below the Bombay Hills.
Rainbow Park Nurseries are operating at the cutting edge of technology and sustainability, and it was fascinating to see their blackout panel system integrated within the greenhouse roof structure. This technology is providing exceptional growing conditions for selected crops.
Celebrating emerging talent
Four outstanding finalists in the Young Plant Producer competition took on a range of challenges designed to test their plant knowledge, technical skill, and decision-making ability as they competed for the 2026 title.
Congratulations to Clayton Hart from Rainbow Park Nurseries, who took out this year’s competition during the special 30-year milestone celebration of the Young Plant Producer programme. We were impressed with his speech, he nailed that section of the competition and proved the next generation of talent is looking sharp.
Competitions like this play an important role in helping shape early careers and creating new opportunities within plant production. The future of the industry looks to be in very good hands.
Supporting the wider industry
A theme at the conference was a bigger emphasis on supporting industry peers and strengthening collaboration across the sector.
The NZPPI Board led a valuable session on the future direction of the organisation, encouraging open discussion and feedback around strategy and industry support. It was positive to see genuine conversations around how the sector can work more closely together to help strengthen outcomes for growers nationwide.
Another insightful session came from Dr Deborah Shepherd, who spoke about navigating change within nurseries, with a strong focus on succession planning, leadership, and knowledge sharing.
Attracting young people into horticulture remains mission critical, and discussions around leadership development, workplace culture, and innovation are important to the long-term success of the industry.
Looking ahead
There was plenty of conversations around labour challenges and it reinforced why nursery automation continues to play an important role for many growers.
Technology such as potting machines and transplanting systems can help reduce labour pressure while improving consistency, efficiency, and plant quality. It may also make the industry more attractive to younger generations entering the workforce, who increasingly expect to work with modern technology and systems.
The conference also highlighted the growing momentum behind National Gardening Week, which will run from 20-27 October 2026. The initiative continues to encourage all ages to get involved with gardening, growing produce, and connecting with nature.
We left the conference feeling inspired by the innovation across the industry, and we’re looking forward to supporting initiatives like National Gardening Week.
Thank you to NZPPI for another excellent conference, see you next year!
If you would like to chat about nursery automation to boost productivity in your nursery, please contact us.
