Larissa Wooding-Ngata

2026 Finalists

Larissa Wooding-Ngata

Ngāti Porou

A born and raised Gisborne girl, I am 28 years old and live with my partner, two dogs and two cats. I am the foreperson for Craigmore Sustainables Gisborne where I have been employed with since February 2023. I started off as an orchard leading hand and when an opportunity come up for the position of foreperson I took it.

My horticulture career started broccoli planting with my best friend when I was 18, and from there a spark for horticulture began. Moving around from planting, harvesting and settling in as a supervisor. After working with vegetables for five years, I then decided to move to orcharding on a family owned citrus and persimmon property. Orchards were new to me but I quickly learned I enjoyed it. I then settled in apples where I have been for the last four years processing and learning.

Over the years I have gained Levels 2 and 3 horticultural qualifications and have plans to study Level 4 horticulture.

Craigmore is based in Central Hawke’s Bay, expanding to Gisborne in 2021. Craigmore in Gisborne continues to grow and I am pleased to grow with them.

I cover two sites as foreperson: Glenpark, based in Pātūtahi with 33ha of Envy; and Sunpark is just out of Gisborne in Te Karaka, a 43ha site with 30ha of Rockit, 10ha A1 & 3.6ha of Joli.

My role consists of looking after the day-to-day jobs on the orchard from setting teams up, supervising our leading hands, inductions, pruning, spraying and keeping in contact with our assistant orchard managers. During peak seasons like thinning and harvest we employ both local and RSE contractors to help us throughout there’s periods. I also take on the health and safety rep for our sites. This has been a learning curve.

With Craigmore I have had options to gain more skills to help become a better leader. One course in particular that I have benefitted from was ‘Dale Carnegie’, which helped with confidence, communication and leadership skills.

Outside of the orchard you’ll find me on a netball court or on a rugby sideline. If I’m not there I will 100% be round my friend or family relaxing, chatting and eating. My partner and I once a week will have a cheeky takeaway at the beach and afterwards take a beach walk to give our kuris a good run and dip in the water. I consider myself an animal lover. If I had it my way my house would be overrun with cats, dogs, rabbits, goats you name it, but my partner is the voice of reason.

It was no surprise that I ended up in a career involved around the outdoors. From a little kid playing outside till it was dark, swimming at the river at Te Araroa, sports, beach walks with my dogs, hunting with my partner.

Looking into the future I aspire to hopefully one day manger an orchard, with my ultimate goal being having a lifestyle block with my own mini orchard.