Steven Rink named 2025 Canterbury Young Grower of the Year

Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch
Jul 14, 2025 |

A Southbridge horticulture professional who once planned to spend just a year backpacking through New Zealand has taken out the 2025 Canterbury Young Grower regional title.

Steven Rink, production manager at Oakley’s Premium Fresh Vegetables, won the competition on Thursday 10 July after going head-to-head with three other finalists. He will now represent Canterbury at the national Young Grower of the Year final in Christchurch this September.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, the 30-year-old studied conservation and ecology at the University of Stellenbosch before arriving in New Zealand in 2019. He initially took up work at a wholesale nursery in Tauranga before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change of plans.

“I loved it here,” Rink said. “When lockdown ended, I spent the rest of the year travelling. I was fishing off a jetty in the Marlborough Sounds when I got the call offering me a job at Oakley’s.”

Now overseeing the production of broccoli, pumpkins, beetroot, and the company’s well-known Golden Gourmet potatoes, Rink said the shift to large-scale, tech-driven horticulture was a significant step up from his earlier experience.

“I was lucky to have an amazing manager, Lucas Rossi, who gave me the space and tools to grow and learn. When he left, he put me forward for his role.”

Rink described the work as demanding but highly rewarding.

“You spend all winter planning rotations and gearing up, spring is flat-out planting, summer is irrigation and crop monitoring, and then comes harvest. There’s no better feeling than bins full of produce ready to go to the packhouse and feed people across New Zealand.”

The Canterbury Young Grower competition had not been held in the region for several years, making all contestants first-time entrants. Rink praised the event’s organisers and said it was a valuable experience.

“The modules covered the basics we all need, but also pushed us out of our comfort zones. I thought it would be nerve-racking, but it turned out to be really enjoyable.”

He said the competition plays a vital role in showcasing talent in the sector and helping young professionals gain a broader view of the industry.

“You might be focused on growing, but not always exposed to the financial or marketing side. This gives you that insight.”

Rink encouraged other young people to consider a career in horticulture.

“The industry is so broad. Some people love growing, others love running big machinery. There’s a place for everyone.”

The runner-up was Brooke Chambers from Farm Right, who works on orchard development projects in Canterbury.

The Young Grower competition is run by regional organisers, with the national final hosted each year by Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ). It is open to commercial fruit and vegetable growers aged 30 or under.

HortNZ chief executive Kate Scott said the competitions played a key role in showcasing the range of careers available.

“It is great to see the Canterbury competition back, celebrating the fantastic array of young grower talent in the region,” she said.

“None of this would be possible without the commitment of industry professionals across the country who give their time to support these events.”

The national final will bring together winners from seven regional competitions to determine the 2025 Young Grower of the Year.


Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch

Chris Lynch is a journalist, videographer and content producer, broadcasting from his independent news and production company in Christchurch, New Zealand. If you have a news tip or are interested in video content, email [email protected]

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