Gisborne grower and orchardist Tim Egan has always enjoyed growing fruit.
He thrives on the challenges each new season brings and he is enthusiastic about the promotion of horticulture.
Egan has a vision for regional prosperity and sustainability through economic growth and is one of the key influencers who lobbied the Government to fund a horticulture co-ordinator in Gisborne.
Supported by the Tipu Advisory Board, chaired by Egan, the co-ordinator’s mandate is to drive the approach for the future workforce for local horticulture, bringing together growers and potential employees.
He is also chairman of the Gisborne Labour Governance Group and a director of Illawarra, a 40 hectare enterprise encompassing apples, kiwifruit and vineyards.
It was that service and commitment to the industry that earned Egan the President’s Trophy 2018, awarded to a successful grower and business leader demonstrating commitment in developing the industry.
The winner of the award is cited as being a person who has a huge passion for anything to do with growing, which spans not only his work in the orchards but also work with people who make the horticulture industry tick.
“I am delighted and honoured to receive the award but on the other hand I do get a lot of satisfaction from my involvement in the industry,” Egan said.
So what lights his fire?
“I’ve always enjoyed growing fruit. Every season is different and every year brings new challenges.
“It’s so satisfying harvesting a crop of fruit and knowing that it’s a healthy, delicious product that’s going to be enjoyed all over the world.”
Egan said the horticulture industry has seen massive changes in the past 30 years.
“Integrated fruit production in pipfruit, kiwifruit and grapes means we’re using biological controls, pest monitoring and only spraying with chemicals when absolutely necessary.
“Orchards and vineyards are teaming with life and seeing how nature solves problems is absolutely fascinating.
Key industry issues include the importance of quality training and qualifications for horticulture and the need to address regional water management issues.
“I’m passionate about the sustainability of our industry and of our environment.
“One of biggest kicks I got out of the trip to conference 2018 in Christchurch was seeing the enthusiasm our two Young Fruit Grower of the Year representatives had for the future of our industry.
“These young growers, Matt Gom and Krista Manual, are coming home to set up a local young grower group that will see our up and coming managers and leaders benefit from networking and learning opportunities outside of the annual competition.”
One of the many things Egan loves about the horticulture industry is growers’ willingness to help and support each other and collaborate to ensure great initiatives are supported and implemented.
One of these initiatives is the collaboration between the Ministry of Social Development and local growers to start addressing some of the issues surrounding the industry’s growth and the area’s reasonably high unemployment rate.
Gisborne is an example of this with the establishment of its advisory board and appointment of Rawinia Parata to the co-ordinator role for the future workforce project known as the Tipu Project, a subset of the Gisborne Governance Group.
“We’ve been really lucky to have Rawinia in a paid role to create the identity and drive the project forward.
“It’s always hard when you’re a group of passionate volunteers with great ideas but limited available time.”
Egan said Parata’s done a great job creating a website tool with funding secured from the local Eastland Community Trust and he hopes the Tipu Project will be up and running in the next month.
Once under way Tipu will connect local employers with local jobseekers while underpinning that connection with excellent pastoral care and engagement with social services where required.
Tipu will also directly engage with the industry and the workforce.
“While the project has limited funding at this stage, once we get a few runs on the board I’m confident that Tipu will become a business-as-usual part of our industry.”
A humbled Egan is not taking all the glory for winning the award.
“Being able to be a part of so many industry-good initiatives is really only made possible by my wonderful partner Natalya. We’re a great team and we’re both passionate about the sustainability of our industry and our region.”
They are proud of their Illawarra operation.
“We have a great team here at Illawarra, we’ve got a permanent staff of seven and both Natalya and I are really proud of the one-team culture that everyone contributes to.
“It’s fantastic to be able to grow products that people want to buy, for companies that can market them well,” Egan said.
“T&G Global and Zespri are doing a really good job for growers and we’re on the right track in terms of growing the right varieties for our region.”
In presenting Egan with the President’s Trophy, Horticulture NZ said there’s never been any doubt about Egan’s passion for the industry, nor his trust and integrity.
“With a vision for a prosperous Tairawhiti and sustainability through economic growth in the Gisborne region, Tim was one of the key influencers who lobbied the previous Government to fund a horticulture co-ordinator in Gisborne,” the citation read.
A researcher who worked closely with Egan spoke of his sincere approach to reducing labour issues and growing the talent at hand.
“He has been heavily involved in the promotion of horticulture in the Gisborne region and he spent large amounts of time organising and participating at the horticulture stand at the careers expo.
“He also facilitated talks with high school students keen to work in the primary industry.”
While Egan has been involved in the horticulture industry for many years he is not about to give anything away.
He has work to finish and there’ll be something else to start for sure, he said.
And that’s in keeping with the spirit of the President’s Trophy that looks to honour people with a passion for working on behalf of the industry in NZ and for someone who has a commitment to developing as a business leader and successful grower.
