Connections: the NZGT and RNZIH
By Murray Dawson, RNZIH
The NZ Gardens Trust was established by the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) in 2004 to ‘Promote the best in New Zealand gardens and horticulture’. As recounted by Liz Morrow (www.gardens.org.nz/resources/twenty-years), the seed of the Trust germinated in Dunedin, during a Rhododendron conference. So too was most of the groundwork, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of Jayson Kelly, who at that time was an executive member of the RNZIH and worked for Dunedin City Council. His founding Trustees included Jayson himself (as the first NZGT Chairperson, 2003–2006), Andrew Maloy (Chair of the RNZIH, 2003–2006), Bryan Gould, Margaret Barker (Larnach Castle), and Liz Morrow (NZGT Executive Officer, 2003–2011) – they succeeded where an earlier RNZIH open gardens scheme had failed.
Around the same time as the inception of the NZGT, the RNZIH New Zealand Education Trust was launched. Their primary role is managing the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition, where future leaders from horticultural sectors (amenity horticulture, arboriculture, florists & flower growers, fruit & vegetable growers, plant production, viticulture) can network and engage in a national competition.
Along with the NZ Arboricultural Association (NZ Arb), the RNZIH helped form the NZ Notable Trees Trust (established 2007/2008), to continue the national scheme established in 1977 to identify and register heritage trees throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
All three trusts have endured for more than 20 years, and went on to become highly successful. The NZGT became fully independent in 2020.
These and other initiatives follow the mission of the RNZIH: ‘To encourage and improve horticulture in NZ by promoting the understanding, appreciation, conservation and use of plants’. The RNZIH celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2023.
Owners of registered NZGT gardens automatically become full members of the RNZIH, which helps support many aspects of horticulture. A recent project centred on documenting the many thousands of exotic plant species cultivated in New Zealand.
All members receive the RNZIH New Zealand Garden Journal, printed twice a year and containing a wealth of articles, lectures, obituaries and books reviews. This journal bridges the gap between popular articles and research papers and is produced to international standards. The triennial newsletter is mainly distributed online (www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/news.html) and contains reports from the trusts and other news and views.
An important role of the RNZIH is to celebrate the achievements of New Zealand horticulturists, through an annual awards scheme. Five awards are bestowed:
Associate of Honour (persons who have rendered distinguished service to horticulture)
Fellowships (members who have made a significant contribution to horticulture by their activities or interest in or service to horticulture)
Plant Raisers’ Award (granted to any nominated individual or organisation who has raised in New Zealand a cultivar, or cultivars, considered to be sufficiently meritorious)
Garden History Award (granted to any nominated individual or organisation within New Zealand making distinguished contributions to horticultural history and conservation)
Horticultural Communicator Award (granted to any nominated individual within New Zealand making outstanding contributions to horticultural communication).
Over the years, many of those active in the NZGT (and other organisations) have received these national awards. For example, in 2026 NZGT garden assessors Penny Cliffin and Dylan Northfield received an Associate of Honour and Fellowship respectively, and both have also served on the RNZIH executive. Wolfgang Bopp, Trustee and Deputy Chair of the NZGT, also received a Fellowship this year.
None of these trusts/organisations would exist without the support of their memberships or the wonderful volunteers serving in various roles. In today’s changing world it’s really important to maintain these connections and to support each other in the many facets of gardening and horticulture.