Anna Kelland has become the 2026 Young Horticulturist of the Year after a rigorous two-day competition in Auckland.
Kelland, a viticulture technician at of Constellation Brands in Marlborough, was the 2025 New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year and therefore went through to represent the viticulture sector in this year’s Young Horticulturist competition.
She competed against four other future leaders in horticulture representing the grower, arborist, amenity and plant producer sectors. Over the two days, they faced a wide range of practical, technical, business, and sustainability challenges, and submitted an innovation project.
2026 Young Horticulturist of the Year winner Anna Kelland.
As well as being the overall winner, Kelland also won the Woolworths Innovation Project Award, the Woolworths Industry Knowledge Award, and the Horticentre Charitable Trust Sustainability Award. Her prizes include a professional development scholarship, a bespoke glass trophy and cash totalling more than $25,000.
Kellan, 25, graduated from Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) as valedictorian in 2022 with concurrent degrees in Viticulture and Wine Science. She went on to win a scholarship with Constellation Brands.
She is the tenth Young Viticulturist to become Young Horticulturist of the Year.
Kris Godsall, the 2026 Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year, will go on to represent viticulture in the 2027 Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.
