Another great milestone has been reached by the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Project.

The much awaited new purpose-built Katikati Innovative Horticulture building was officially opened on the afternoon of Wednesday 17 May.

Funds were raised by the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust. The building has been erected on Katikati College land under an agreement with the Ministry of Education. The result is a centre of horticultural educational excellence catering for school aged students, young people not in education, employment or training, (NEETs) and the community. It will bring together education, skills and training providers offering pathways into horticulture, under one umbrella, based at Katikati College.

Present at the opening were invited guests representing the many people from private individuals to family trusts, growers, packhouses, philanthropic organisations and major industry players who had contributed towards this new facility, either financially or in kind. Members of the Katikati College School Board and past and present members of the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust were also present.

The ceremonial opening was carried out by local businessmen and long time players in the kiwifruit industry, John Bourke of Wainui Orchards and Sean Carnachan of Western Orchards. The Trust invited John and Sean to perform this role in recognition of the huge contribution these two gentlemen have made in leadership and fundraising since the inception of the project.

The building has been named GrowHub to reflect the Project’s objectives of growing young people, growing partnerships and connections and its role as a meeting place of learning communities.

Other speakers were Dave Freeman, Chair of the Trust; Emily Woods, an ex Katikati College student now pursuing a successful career in Horticulture, Colin Bond, Trust member and CEO of NZKGI, and Hilary Johnson, Katikati College Innovative Horticulture Manager. All had a shared aspiration to see young people follow educational pathways into the diverse horticultural career opportunities that the industry offers. There was a real future focused sense of purpose.

Recognition was made of the huge community and industry support for this project, with donors also being acknowledged by name on a large sign at the entrance to the building.

GrowHub is a simple yet striking building. Clad and roofed in dark grey coloursteel, it features a 3 m wide concrete verandah overlooking the students’ raised gardens and out to the Kaimai Ranges. It features polished concrete floors for practicality. There is a large open plan area, two break out rooms, two resource rooms for practical work, a fitted kitchen and externally accessed toilets and shower. There is a minimum of fixed furnishings, allowing for furniture and resources to easily change according to teaching and learning needs. It is light, airy and modern.

Katikati College’s Innovative Horticulture Programme leads in curriculum innovation and has created a distinctive student experience, embedding industry connectedness. Student enrolment is strong and increasing. Around a third of senior students now study Horticulture and they are very enthusiastic about their wonderful new facility.

The Trust and the College are in discussion with third party training providers and community groups and look forward to having them working in the new centre too.

For further information email kkhort_trust@katikaticollege.school.nz