What happens next?

Stage 1 – Complete Your Entry

Entries are open the week beginning 10th June, and close 5.00pm Friday 2nd August 2024. Entrants must complete the entry form and submit by email to [email protected] by no later than 5pm Friday 2nd August. No late entries will be accepted.

Entry form must be completed and signed by both the employer and entrant.

Entrants may be contacted for further information on workplace experience and training progress if required, by the Registered Master Landscapers judging panel.

If you require additional space to complete questions on the entry form, you may include supporting attachments including photo or video submissions.

A $100 non-refundable application fee is payable for each entry at time of entry submission. There is no limit on the number of entrants from any one company, but individual entrants may not compete in the event more than twice.

Stage 2 - Competitors Selected

10 Competitors will be selected from the submitted entries to move forward to compete for the 2024 Young Landscaper of the Year. Entrants and their employers will be contacted between 5th – 9th August 2024 by email to confirm if successful in progressing through to the finals, with competitors announced publicly 9th August.

Selection Process

Judges will consider attitude to work, maturity, personal development, and overall skills to identify finalists. They also consider the following:

• Work ethic and leadership
• Career development to date
• Communication skills and personal presentation
• Industry experience<
• Employer / Referee statement
• Track record of demonstrating excellence based on submitted cv and/or portfolio
• Training and study achievements

Competitors and their employers will be sent an information pack approximately 6 weeks prior to the event containing with the event programme as well as tips and tricks to support and prepare contestants. The information pack will also include a brief on a 3-minute speech topic to be prepared and then presented by the competitor at the practical event day.

Stage 3 - Competition Day

After arriving in Wellington on the morning of Friday 20th September 2024, competitors will assemble that afternoon to be briefed for the weekend’s events and complete the written test. Competitors will then take part in the practical challenges on Saturday 21st September at the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

This competition requires competitors to showcase their skills across a number of technical and written challenges, planning and equipment management. Competitors will be assessed against the following criteria:

Practical skills: covering both soft and hard landscaping, competitors can expect to utilize a broad range of practical experience to demonstrate industry best practice, technical ability, workplace health and safety and application of knowledge in response to a brief.

Communication and leadership: this includes an interview with a judge in the week prior to the practical event demonstrating personal achievements, and delivery of a 3 minute speech on competition day on a given topic. Points will also be awarded throughout the practical events for contestants explaining their workmanship across different elements of the stations.

Scope assessment and design interpretation: includes determining an itemized scope for the implementation of a given design, then scaling and quantifying plans to create a schedule of materials.

Award Winners Announced

On Saturday 21st September 2024 all competitors will attend the Awards Dinner in Wellington, where the prizes will be awarded alongside the inaugural Landscape Legacy Awards, acknowledging members of the association who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.