NZ Tree Crops Association Conference 2026

NZ Tree Crops Association Conference 2026

 ~ HOMEGROWN ~

Hosted by the Waikato Branch
Hamilton Gardens 27-29 March, 2026

Conference Schedule | Speakers | Field Trips | Self Drive Tour | Accommodation Suggestions | Places to Visit | Enquiries

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

The annual Tree Crops Association Conference is a celebration of trees and everything to do with them. While the word “conference” conjures up pictures of blokes in suits doing corporate things, the tree crops conferences are nothing like this. They’re such a fun casual event that many people have been attending every year for decades.

Over the dates 27-29 March 2026, the conference will be hosted by the Waikato Branch and held in the iconic Hamilton Gardens. The Garden’s pavilion is a fabulous event centre and is about 10 metres from the entrance to the most incredible gardens in New Zealand.

Due to its worldwide renown as a spectacular tourist attraction, the Hamilton City Council now charges a $20 entry fee to the Gardens for anyone who is not a Hamilton resident. But the conference committee has negotiated for every conference attendee to enter the Gardens as many times as they like during the three days of the conference, as part of the conference fee, and have programmed times in the conference program for people to wander in what Trip Advisor calls a “unique attraction… rated among the top three things to do in New Zealand and in the top 1% of attractions globally…”

Other topics which will be covered include:

• Better pollination of tree crops
• Home growing bananas
• Control of codling moth
• Growing asimona triloba
• Permaculture gardening
• Native tree regeneration, including native tree edible fruit
• Harakeke care and use
• Organic regenerative home tree growing.

If you’re bored with any of that at any point, you can go walk in the Gardens!

In keeping with the Homegrown theme, the visits to local growers will be conducted slightly differently to previous years. Rather than visit mainly commercial orchards and large growing operations, many of the visits will be to local home orchards and guests will be driven to the locations in mini-vans. Also included will be tours of native bush regeneration projects in some of Hamilton’s iconic gullies.

On the Monday following the conference a number of other properties which could not be fitted into the main program will be available to visit for attendees with their own transport.

Prices for everything are increasing these days and unfortunately the conference cost will need to be up a little bit on previous years, with an early bird price of $350. Start saving now, it will be well worth the money. If you’re looking for accommodation near the venue, motels on Grey St, Hamilton East, such as Aspen Manor, Albert Court or Manhattan Lodge are all within easy walking distance of the Gardens.

Overall, the 2026 Tree Crops Conference promises an exciting mix of fascinating topics, tours, visits and fun, held in the centre of New Zealand’s most spectacular curated gardens. It will be an unmissable event.

Venue

The Pavillon, Hamilton Gardens

Conference Schedule

Lecture and Workshop

Lecture: Harakeke – Planting, Caring, and Harnessing the Flax Bush

Dr Jacqui Keelan will explore both the practical care of harakeke and its deeper cultural significance. Attendees will learn about traditional planting, harvesting, and sustainable use, while also discovering the stories, metaphors, and wisdom embedded in this taonga (precious gift).

Workshop: From Leaf to Fibre – Hands-on Skills with Harakeke

Gain practical experience in harvesting, fibre extraction, and ropemaking, with insights into how traditional stories and symbolism inform these practices and connect people to the land.

Participants will explore the care and resourcefulness of harakeke, gaining insight into the practical skills and understanding the cultural significance of this remarkable plant. Sessions include instruction on harvesting, fibre extraction, and simple uses such as making rope, highlighting the sustainability and traditional knowledge embedded in these practices.

Speakers

Field Trips

Saturday, 28 March

Anyone interested in booking a Saturday Minivan Tour 1–3 should contact stengerroland@yahoo.co.nz before making an online booking.

Bus Tour A: Urban Appetite

The Urban Appetite tour will explore two locations where food is grown for the community.

Since its founding in 1959, Rhode St Primary School has grown into more than just a place of learning for tamariki. Over the last 18 years, since becoming an Enviroschool, it has transformed its grounds into an ecological haven, blending education with hands-on environmental care.

Walking through the school’s grounds, you’ll find 60 fruit and nut trees, numerous berry shrubs, and over 1,000 native trees. The school’s own nursery supplies seedlings and the hydroponic system and gardens supply fresh produce for its shared kitchen, where students help prepare meals for the breakfast club and shared hot lunches. Even the old swimming pool has been repurposed into a tunnel greenhouse, showcasing creative upcycling at its best.

One of the most unique features is the “ecological island” inspired by the Maungatautari sanctuary model — a predator-proof fenced area with native trees and underplantings, used as an outdoor teaching space, surrounded by a bike path. Students also take part in the Ecowarriors workshops, learning about sustainability through activities like planting and composting. They look after the chickens and have even built their own pizza oven.

Guiding our visit is Alastair Kerr, a former classroom teacher, who is now half time environmental teacher and half time property manager, whose passion for sustainability has helped shape the school’s green ethos.

The second part of the tour visits Te Parapara and other food growing places at Hamilton Gardens.

Te Parapara was developed by Waikato’s Ngati Wairere and is the world’s only pre-European-style Māori productive garden. It showcases the skills needed to grow kumara and other tropical crops in a colder climate. The surrounding forest contains some examples of uncultivated foods. The garden was completed in 2010 and includes carved structures such as waharoa (gateway) and pātaka (storehouse).

The Walled Kitchen Garden is typical of European estates of the 18th and 19th centuries. Heat-trapping walls suit espaliered fruit trees as well as abundant vegetables in raised beds. The harvests go to food charities in the Waikato.

The Sustainable Backyard demonstrates how everyday spaces can be transformed into productive, eco-friendly havens. Built on permaculture principles, it creates a closed-loop ecosystem. Designed to mimic nature, it demonstrates how small spaces can support biodiversity, reduce waste, and provide year-round harvests through sustainable practices.

Tour B: Sheryn Dean’s lifestyle block (Tirau)

Sheryn Dean’s 3.5ha property in Tirau features a diverse collection of productive plants integrated with animals and poultry to create a sustainable lifestyle block. Previously editor of the TreeCropper and columnist for NZ Gardener and NZ LIfestyle Block magazines, Sheryn has used her block to experiment with everything from truffles and pecans to quail and pigs. Now a lifestyle block consultant helping others establish their dream (www.sheryn.nz), Sheryn will discuss and demonstrate aspects of orchard design and maintenance to achieve a low-input, high-output, organic home orchard.

Minivan Tour 1: Roger Matthews and Adam Gollogly (Morrinsville) FULLY BOOKED

In 2017 Roger & Nikki Matthews decided that it was time to leave Auckland and have a change in pace. They purchased a completely bare 8 ha block of land on Kuranui Road and started a commercial orchard and built a house. Previously this block was used for maize growing. The main crop in the orchard is feijoas with about 1,000 trees, planted in a 3-wire espalier system. They have also planted chestnuts, figs and some citrus and persimmons. Macadamias were also planted but these have not proven to be suited to the local climate. The crops were partly chosen based on a lack of the need to spray. Roger is President of the NZ Feijoa Growers Assn.

Adam is situated on an acre and a half of originally heavy clay soil that has been built up over 4 years of intensive topsoil building practices. His land features a diverse range of plants including a large vege garden, large cacti gardens and syntropic agroforestry gardens with over 150 bananas in the ground as well as a diverse range of other subtropical fruit trees and rare plants such as inga beans, cherimoyas, sapotes, guavas and much more! A particular design feature are two multi-species spirals that curl around each other.

Minivan Tour 2: Don Knight and Kees Meinderts (Eureka/Motumaoho) FULLY BOOKED

Karen and Don have been on this 10-acre property for 10 years attempting to create a year-round supply of fruit & nuts including chestnut, avocado, feijoa, mulberry, carob, blueberry, apple, quince, tamarillo, strawberry, grape, nashi, mandarins, kiwifruit, passionfruit, pinenut, fig, plum, persimmon, tangelo, peach, nectarine, walnut, cherry, orange, pomelo, lemon, lime, pear, bay, pomegranate, cranberry, almond, olive, white sapote, pecan, hazelnut, etc. Our main planting has been 400 macadamia trees. We are part of the group’s trial of various apricot varieties, trying to determine which varieties best suit Waikato conditions. We also have a number of fodder trees for our livestock in case of drought. …poplar, willow, tree lucerne, paulownia, honey locust, etc. There’s heaps of space here so, if anyone would like to pitch a tent or park a caravan / mobile home, you are most welcome to stay a few nights.

Kees moved onto his 1.4ha block just over 30 years ago. Earlier owners had already planted various fruit and nut trees. While the place was in a sorry state in 1995, a few of the original trees are still alive today, prolifically producing almond, walnut and avocado trees amongst them. Frequent flooding by the bordering stream poses a challenge for the lowest-lying part of the property, but Kees’ assortment of geese, ducks, chooks, and guinea fowl love the idyllic setting. At higher ground, Kees not only grows a wide range of citrus, but also passionfruit, tamarillos, date palms, macadamias, bananas and other subtropicals. He is keen to make use of the microclimatic niches his place affords him and aims to live in harmony with his environs. Supported by some friends, Kees sells some produce through an ‘honesty-box’ fruit stall.

Minivan Tour 3: Lindsay Amner and Annette Ah Chee/Roland Stenger (Whatawhata) FULLY BOOKED

Lindsay Amner and Ninette van Aartsen live on a hectare lifestyle block near Whatawhata. Their property borders the Waipa River to the north and a stream in a gully to the west. In the 7 years they have lived there, they have planted about 80 fruit trees and a firewood lot with about 80 coppicing eucalyptus. The gully is a restoration project where Lindsay has cleared most of the privet, gorse, blackberry, willow and hawthorn and is in the process of restoring it to native bush with over 2000 trees planted. He has built about 300 metres of boardwalk and stairs throughout the gully to make an easy walk for anyone capable of climbing a few stairs.

Annette and Roland love growing trees of all sorts and have in the last 25 years planted around 400 fruit and nut trees of more than 60 species, many ornamentals, a woodlot, and several native areas on their 10ha lifestyle block. Initially they started out growing all the conventional temperate climate varieties, which allows them to regularly provide a wide range of scion wood to the annual grafting workshop (e.g., > 65 apple cultivars). As part of their climate change adaptation efforts, they have in recent years expanded into growing various subtropicals, of which bananas are clearly the most productive. Another uncommon crop that might even be ripe around the time of the conference, is Asimina triloba (see Tree Cropper, March 2025).

Sunday, 29 March

Bus Tour C: Newstead Orchard

Newstead Orchard is one of the very last remaining orchards near Hamilton that serve the local community (rather than export markets). Nearly 50 flavourful varieties of plums, pears and apples, and to a lesser extent peaches and nectarines are sold tree-ripened via an orchard shop, farmer’s markets, and wholesale. Apples from the orchard also help artisan bakers Volare create their delicious caramelised apple danishes. While not being an organic orchard, which is particularly difficult in the humid Waikato climate, John Woolford has for decades used natural methods as much as possible and has collaborated with scientists carrying out research on fireblight. With Annie Perkins recently taking over the orchard business, regenerative agriculture practices are bound to increase even more in the future.

Bus Tour D: Mangaiti Gully and Waiwhakareke FULLY BOOKED

Hamilton’s extensive gully systems are hidden gems in the city’s landscape, offering vital habitats for wildlife, tranquil walkways for locals, and essential drainage systems. Formed around 15,000 years ago by spring sapping, these gullies, fed by streams, empty into the Waikato River. This erosion process continues today.

When Māori arrived less than 1,000 years ago, they used the gullies for food, water, and other resources. Early European settlers cleared the swamp forests for grazing, but seasonal flooding and steep slopes made it impractical. Over time, weeds, bird-dispersed seeds, and garden escapes overtook the areas, which became convenient rubbish dumps. The City Council even began filling in some gullies, but protests in the 1990s stopped this. Growing environmental awareness led to volunteer groups dedicated to restoring these spaces. The Council joined in, distributing thousands of native seedlings annually.

One such group, the Mangaiti Gully Restoration Trust, began in 2010 with Rex Bushell and a few friends. Today, up to 30 volunteers regularly work to control predators and restore the gully, turning it from a wildland of willows, privet, and blackberry into a well-maintained suburban walkway with seven entrances.

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park, a 65-hectare community park on the outskirts of Hamilton, is another significant environmental project. Described as “a community park of international significance,” its goal is to recreate the original ecosystem diversity of the Hamilton Basin, now rare in the city and surrounding areas. The park features five main ecosystems: ridge crests with canopy species like kauri and rewarewa, hill slopes with podocarps and rata, semi-swamps with kahikatea and pukatea, wetland margins, and peat lake and aquatic systems, including the restored Horseshoe Lake.

The park’s development began in 2004, guided by the University of Waikato, and was carefully planted in stages. Open to the public in 2019, it offers loop tracks, a 16m viewing platform, and educational opportunities for schools. The University continues research here, and future plans include the reintroduction of native species by the Hamilton Zoo and a proposed predator-proof fence around the park.

Minivan Tour 4: Ian Toyn and Aroon Parshotam (Matangi/Tamahere) FULLY BOOKED

Ian moved to a 4 ha lifestyle block with preexisting exotic shelterbelts and 5 fruit trees in 2012. New plantings include native hedges and about 175 potentially productive trees. Uncommon tree crops include heritage Apples, European Plums, white and black Peaches, Hazelnuts, Asimoya, and Figs. Uncommon other crops include Pepinos, American Cranberry, Yacon, Garlic “Kakanui”, and Maori potatoes. This place remains susceptible to frosts, hence few subtropicals here. The aim is to feed the residents year-round, including free ranging chickens, cattle and wildlife, while growing sustainably (via being mostly organic) with minimal inputs, not on perfect produce for sale.

Aroon Parshotam’s 1.5ha property in Tamahere, by the Waikato River features productive plants and trees. Kavita runs the Narrows Meditation and Retreat Centre on the property too. The property features a large taro-leaf farm supplying taro leaves to communities and cafés from the far North to the far South of New Zealand. Aroon will discuss the cultural significance of growing taro in NZ, the health and nutritional benefits of taro and issues concerning growing taro in NZ. We will have some delicious taro dishes to try out.

Minivan Tour 5: Winston McEwan and Giles Sharman (South-West Hamilton) FULLY BOOKED

Winston and Roanne McEwan live on a 10Ha lifestyle block on the south west edge of Hamilton, moving here in 2010. We have planted a lot of fruit trees of all sorts and tried to make the property productive in every way. There are approximately 70 apple trees, 50 pears, 50 apricot trees, 20 plums, figs, stone fruit, walnuts, pecan, macadamia, mulberry, 200 citrus, 4 acres of blueberry, feijoa hedges, avocados, bananas and lots more. Soils are tough. It is not always well cared for, but does produce, and we run cows, ducks, chickens and geese in the mix. There is always something ready in the garden and fruit to give away and share. It’s hard to stop and we are still planting and enjoying the blessings of the fruit and watching it grow.

Giles: Welcome to our 2 acre lifestyle block that has been planted up with most plants between 5 and 15 years old. The property is on an east facing slope well protected from the prevailing wind and frosts. We have bought most plants online from all over the country over the last 15 years and also grafted a lot of scions bought online and collected from friends. The list of plant sis extensive and too long to list in detail, but includes. Apples (150 varieties), pears (15), plums (75), prunes (10), apricots (11), peach (15), nectarine (11), nashi (6), orange (16), mandarins (16), Lemon (10), lime (8), quats (6), tangor (9), feijoa (31), figs (80). Also sub-tropicals like bananas, cherimoya, casimiroa, kiwifruit, carob, date plum, jaboticaba, finger lime and lots more. We are happy to show you round and you can take a look at any varieties you might be considering for your garden. Hopefully we can share tips and ideas.

Minivan Tour 6: Clare St Pierre and Rachel Duncan (Pirongia Food Foresters) FULLY BOOKED

Clare and Tony St Pierre have established a mature food-forest on a 4500 m2 (1 acre) section in Pirongia Village which was featured in NZ Gardener magazine June 2025 edition. They are avid vege and ornamental gardeners as well and are on a mission to grow as many different varieties as they can. They have over 230 varieties of productive trees and vines, favouring heritage varieties, and grow organically. Varieties include apples, pears, plums, peaches, citrus, pecans, avocados, grapes, persimmons, kiwis, loquat, figs and a range of subtropicals. Clare has family connections to the Bohemian settlers of Puhoi who arrived in 1863 and grows some varieties which have been passed down from them. She also publishes her activities on her Instagram channel kiwigardeningwithclare. Tony has taken videos of their garden, and these can be viewed on his Youtube channel.

Rachel Duncan, a Food Forest garden: This 2500 square metre property is 15 years old. Based on Permaculture principles, bare pasture is now a compact Food Forest, with many fruit and nut trees. The aim is to provide household edibles for every month of the year, and environments for birds, amphibians, bees, chickens, composting and seed growing. There is a separate vegetable garden. A love of plants and the NZ environment is evident, with strong emphasis on colour, informality and unusual plant combinations. A further paddock is currently being developed into a Food Forest, with more native plants and bird/insect habitats. Keruru enjoys the tree lucernes. The property is on the wildlife corridor from Maungatautari to Pirongia (Taiea Te Taiao) and hopefully will become another stepping stone for bird migration.

Self-drive Tour on Monday, 30 March

On Monday, 30 March 2026, we offer post-conference self-drive options that include some of the minivan tours close to Hamilton as well as additional destinations further afield. Some destinations require expressions of interest if you would like a guided tour by the owner; please check the individual tour descriptions for details.

Minivan destinations also open on Monday – numbers refer to the corresponding symbols on the map:

1-2) Adam Gollogly (Morrinsville): Visitors welcome 9 am – 3 pm.
2-1) Don Knight (Eureka): Visitors welcome 9 am – 3 pm. 1-hour long guided tours offered at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, and 1:30 pm.
3-1) Lindsay Amner (Whatawhata): Visitors welcome 10 am – 12 noon.
3-2) Annette Ah Chee/Roland Stenger (Whatawhata): Visitors welcome 9 am – 3 pm.
4-1) Ian Toyn (Matangi): Approx.1-hour long guided tour at 9:30 am and 2:00 pm.
4-2) Aroon Parshotam (Tamahere): Visitors welcome 9 am – 3 pm.
6-1) Clare St Pierre (Pirongia): Open 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. 1-hour long guided tours offered at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.
6-2) Rachel Duncan (Pirongia): Open 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. 1-hour long guided tours offered at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm.

1) Hawi Winter (Pukekawa)

Well-established, 10-ha lifestyle block with multitude of points of interest for lovers of all sorts of plants, and for potters! Hawi is one of our conference speakers reporting on his experience with pheromone mating disruption and codling moths.

Hawi offers a guided tour of his block at a time to be decided with interested parties during the conference. Expressions of interest are essential.

More info at Our Way of Life

2) David Whyte (Ohinewai)

Our former NZTCA President lives on a 1.5-ha block growing organic citrus fruit, supplemented by more than 200 other fruit trees.

David invites conference participants to call in any time between 9 am and 12 noon; expressions of interest during the conference would be appreciated.

More info at Our Way of Life

3) Merve Yesilkir/Daniel Whittington (near Raglan)

Hakea is a secluded bush retreat surrounded by gorgeous scenery of native forest, rolling hills and harbour views. Discover regeneration and conservation through Permaculture. Merve is one of our conference speakers where she will share stories, tools, and insights on how we can work with nature to create thriving, regenerative futures.

Merve is happy to welcome visitors at 11 am and 3 pm; expressions of interest during the conference would be appreciated.

More info at Hakea Retreat

4) Graham and Tess Smith (Ōtorohanga District)

The Smith’s successfully demonstrate that it is possible (or maybe even required?) to operate multiple businesses from a small block. Many tree croppers will be aware of their paulownia plantation that is integrated with their dairy operation.

Graham offers a guided tour of his block at 10 am subject to sufficient expressions of interest during the conference (≥ 4 participants).

More info at Our Way of Life

5) David Cifuentes (Owhango)

Welcome to MONNZ – Middle of Nowhere, New Zealand. Nestled on 2.2 hectares, MONNZ is our evolving project: A place where orchards, blueberries, and experimental crops meet hospitality and nature. What began as a grazing paddock is now a work-in-progress landscape of apples, pears, plums, cherries, honeyberries, and even harricado trials. MONNZ is more than a farm – it’s a journey of balance between work, lifestyle, and nature. We invite you to share in our story, see our Airbnb, and see how memories are grown here, one season at a time.

David invites conference participants to call in any time on Monday; expressions of interest during the conference would be appreciated.

Accommodation Suggestions

• Motels on the nearby Grey St, Hamilton East, such as Aspen Manor and Albert Court

• Use booking websites such as iSite, Airbnb, Booking.com, or Tripadvisor

Places to visit in and around Hamilton

We would like to encourage you to spend a few extra days in Waikato before or after the conference.

Please note that a number of tree cropper properties will be open to conference participants during the self-drive tour on Monday, 30 March 2026. These include some of the minivan destinations from the weekend, but also a range of interesting places further away from Hamilton. A list and map will be made available to registered conference participants at a later stage.

For touristic information on Waikato, please consult Waikato NZ:

‘Welcome to the Mighty Waikato – A geographically and culturally diverse region, the Waikato has a range of activities and attractions to suit all ages and tastes – from our vibrant city hub of Hamilton to the rugged west coast, underground wonders and middle-earth movie magic.’

Places of potential interest identified by local tree croppers include Zealong Tea Estate, Alphra Lavender Farm, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum, and Taitua Arboretum.

Bank Account Details for Registration Payment

ACCOUNT NAME: Waikato Branch NZ Tree Crops Association Inc
ACCOUNT NUMBER:  03-1555-0090809-025
NOTE: Please use your Registration Name in the transaction details to help us identify your payment.
PLEASE CHECK THE BANK ACCOUNT YOU ARE PAYING IS AS ABOVE. DO NOT USE A SAVED PAYEE AS THE BANK ACCOUNT WILL BE INCORRECT.

Cancellation Policy: Cancel before 1st March 2026 – 80% refund; cancel 1st – 14th March – 50% refund; after 14th March – at committee’s discretion.

Enquiries

Please fill out the form below if you have any questions regarding the conference.