New head of wine and hort research

AGRIBUSINESS banking specialist Rabobank has announced the appointment of Hayden Higgins to head up its horticulture and wine sector research.

Mr Higgins joins the bank’s food and agribusiness research team from his role as major agribusiness manager with Rabobank New Zealand.

General manager of RaboResearch food and agribusiness Tim Hunt said the new appointment was an opportunity to take advantage of Mr Higgins’ extensive knowledge of the horticulture and viticulture industries.

“Over the past 15 years in his career in rural banking, Hayden has worked extensively across a range of industries, but has had particular exposure to both wine and horticulture,” he said.

“Since joining Rabobank in 2010, he has worked closely with some of the largest and most complex wine, horticulture and other agribusiness clients in the North Island and has built a substantial in-depth knowledge of these key industries in this time.”

Mr Higgins has also served as chair of Rabobank’s NZ horticulture strategy team since 2014.

Mr Higgins will cover the horticulture and viticulture sectors in both Australia and New Zealand.

Originally from the Horowhenua region on the North Island, an area known for horticulture and pastoral farming, Mr Higgins said he developed a keen interest in the agri sector from a young age.

“I was fortunate to work in a number of different farming operations across New Zealand and the UK, forming an appreciation of the pastoral sector, prior to commencing study and getting into banking and I am fortunate now to still be involved in agriculture, albeit from a different side of the farm gate,” he said.