News

By Merve Yeşilkır, Waikato Branch As tree croppers, we all carry that dream of having land that is both beautiful and productive, picking fruit, right and left through summer and winter. At the same time, there are moments of struggle, the amount of work that needs to be done, pests to tackle, and invasive weeds. The solution often seems to be finding a teacher who has figured it all out, someone who understands every detail and grows so successfully that plants thrive wherever they go. Although this sounds idyllic, that teacher is very real and accessible to all. Papatūānuku, Pachamama, [...]

. There are two categories for the photo competition: Category 1: A photograph featuring “tree crops”. That is, the trees, shrubs and other plants, produce and products of interest to tree croppers. Category 2: A photo that features “tree croppers”. That is, the people involved in the NZTCA, or members and the public attending tree crop events. Winners Overall national winner: Megan Winks (Canterbury) Winner category 1 Tree Crops: Latent heat of fusion protecting apricot blossoms, by Megan Winks (Canterbury) . Winner category 2 Tree Croppers: A bounty of wisdom, by Denise Twentyman (Waikato) Both category winners will receive a NZ$50 [...]

Exciting News. Fruit Rootstock Orders Open! 🍎🍐🍑🍒 Members only orders. If you're a non-member and would like to take advantage of this opportunity you can become a member here >> NZTCA  is now taking orders for high-quality fruit tree rootstocks, supplied by Genesis and Appletons Nurseries. We have rootstocks suitable for grafting: Apples Pears Myrobalan for plum and apricot Cherries Important Order Details: Order Deadline: Midnight, Friday, 20th February 2026. Payment deadline: Wednesday, 25th of February Delivery: Rootstocks will be available for delivery in late August 2026. Payment: Full payment is required at the time of ordering via Bank Transfer only. Quantity: No minimum order [...]

There were ten photographs sent by nine Tree Crop members for the 2024 Dick Roberts Award Tree Crops Association Photographic exhibition, where each person sent in a photo plus a related image and text on the theme of the seed, Mā te kākano. These were first shown as an exhibition within an exhibition in the Creative Northland run, Quest Art Space in central Whangārei for two weeks and then moved to the Tree Crops conference location where attendee votes determined the winners of the awards. He Whakatū Raihi – Rice Grown in Nelson  by Yuki Fukuda, Nelson/Tasman, came first, followed [...]

This year’s worthy recipient was Robyn Hee who unwittingly took the award all the way to the conference only to take it back home again, albeit with a greater sense of connection to it on the homeward journey. Robyn’s nomination came from the Wairarapa Branch and was endorsed by Jackie Thirkettle, Annie Barnes (Sth Island VP), Bob Phillips (Past President), Jon Colyer (West Coast Chair), Steve Udy and Tate Ulsker (past and present Nelson Branch Chairs, respectively). Robyn has been very active in NZTCA starting with the Nelson Branch as Secretary and Research Officer. In 2021 she was appointed to [...]

Nomination for Don McKenzie award, awarded annually to a member who has made a ‘significant contribution to Tree Crops.’ Nominating Branch: Waikato Bob and Ann have been long time members, and invested time, effort and love into local Nelson Branch and at a national level. The current membership system only goes back to 1988, so finding a date that Bob and Ann joined was difficult. The best we can tell is that they joined in 1986, when there was a three day visit to Marlborough by Nelson branch. And even from that date they were enthusiastic, helpful and generous members, [...]

The annual Tree Crops photo competition in memory of professional photographer and dedicated tree cropper Dick Roberts was presented at the 2023 NZTCA Conference in Otaki. Congratulations to Linda Stopforth (Wellington-Horowhenua) for taking both 1st and 3rd placings and to Annette Ah Chee (Waikato) for runner up. National president David Whyte presents Linda Stopforth with Dick Roberts trophy. Forming Medlar Fruit - 1st Linda Stopforth of Wellington-Horowhenua Australian bush tucker in NZ - 2nd Annette Ah Chee of Waikato Ladybird on hazelnuts - 3rd Linda Stopforth of Wellington-Horowhenua