Who We Are

Early Passion for Business and the Environment

I've always had a passion for plants, business and the outdoors.

I am the third generation of Greens to be involved in conservation,

and at least the fifth generation of Greens to operate businesses

within New Zealand. It really is in my blood. 

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From a young age my passion for horticulture, sustainability and

business was always prevalent. By the time I was 12 years old, I

had already owned multiple businesses in the horticultural field.

 

With the help of my grandfather, Paul Green, I opened a worm tea

business in primary school where I would set up food waste

buckets in every classroom across the school and after class,

collect them up and feed them to my worm farm and was bringing

in pocket money on the side.

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Once my worm farm operations became too large to store at home, I came to an agreement with my school, Taupo Primary, to lease skip bins off the school to produce worm tea, with rent being a percentage of the profits I earned going back into the school. I would sell worm tea at the school gates once a week, and I would sell worm tea to conservation and reforestation organizations to help with plant health.

 

Highschool/College

This is just one example of the type of things I have always been interested in, and my family took notice in this when choosing to attend St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton. While at St Paul's, I identified my passion for business and horticulture, studying both Enterprise and Agriculture/Horticulture. 

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A key highlight of my time at St Paul's Collegiate was Tihoi Venture School. Having had grown up less than 20 minutes away from the campus and having both personal and family history in the area, I felt right at home. I have always thrived in outdoors environments. While at Tihoi I learnt values I still hold to this day, and made lifelong connections. At the end of the 18 week program, I was awarded with the Most Improved Student award, showing just how much I thrive in outdoor environments.

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Tertiary Education and Qualifications

Halfway through 2024, I decided to pursue higher education and studied a Certificate in Pest Operations at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) so that I could deepen my understanding of industry practices, as well as earn valuable qualifications in LUV's and Work practices. 

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In 2025, I continued to study at WITT, this time towards a Certificate in Conservation. This was a full-time one-year qualification, successive to the Certificate in Pest Operations.

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This provided me valuable skills and qualifications in weed management and agrichemicals (Growsafe Standard Certificate, Certified Handler Certificate, VTA Handling and Storage Certificate). During this qualification, I also received a Certificate in Chainsaw Handling, making me a certified safe chainsaw operator.

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Some other key components of this qualification include:

 

New Zealand Ecology and Wahi Tapu - understanding the species that make up the New Zealand environment and their cultural, ecological and environmental, community, recreation, and economic impacts.

 

Matauranga Māori - Understanding Māori values and protocols, understanding of the principles within the Treaty of Waitangi and co-governance of land.

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Risk Assessment and Conservation Technology - acquiring my Comprehensive First Aid Certificate, managing first aid in an emergency situation, providing first aid, providing basic life support, undertaking pre-work risk assessments, and leading a team while keeping them safe. 

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Animal Pest Management - monitoring pest species through tracking cards, trail cameras, and chew cards, species identification and understanding of monitoring data. Using data, stakeholder priorities and relations to create long term pest-management plans with the goal of enhancing stakeholder needs, values, and goals. Knowledge of safe management and potential adverse side effects of hazardous substances in the workplace. Implementation and continued monitoring of created management plans resulting in success.

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Communications and Legislation - creating effective management plans involving stakeholders such as landowners and managers, nearby landowners, local Iwi and Hapu, and government policies and agencies.

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Kaitiakitanga and Rangatiratanga - understanding the importance of taking care of the land and maintaining/improving the environment for future generations.

 

Behind The Creation of GRENZ Horticulture

The skills I have learned from my education, and prior employment. Specifically, I have extensive experience in conservation, horticulture and arboriculture. In all of my endeavors, I have demonstrated that I am a self-starter, that I am committed to tasks, and that I relate well to others. 

 

My motivation for creating GRENZ Horticulture is that I am passionate about the environment and horticulture and would like to contribute to the future of sustainable horticulture within the Canterbury region and beyond. 

 

Previous Business - GreenTrails Taranaki

In January 2025, I started a pest plant removal and landscaping business in New Plymouth called GreenTrails Taranaki. I used marketing strategies I had learnt from my stepmum, Kylie Hawker-Green to successfully bring customers to my business.

 

By June of 2025, I was managing and undertaking multiple jobs across New Plymouth. I had hired a full-time staff member, and we had built up a reputation within the community of a hardworking and reliable business. 

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Life Changing Moment: Injury and Sepsis

Unfortunately, my life took a turn in July of 2025 when I tore my ACL, MCL, meniscus, and broke my tibia while on a run. One of my key extracurricular activities is triathlon, and I had plans (and a genuine opportunity given my stats) to attempt a pro debut in 2026 at the Ironman and Half Ironman distances.

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I put the business on hold between July and September (when I had surgery) with the expectation of focusing on rehab and my studies while in the winter period, then returning to run the business in late September, taking up practical work in early 2026. Unfortunately, there was a major failure within my knee reconstruction surgery. 

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What followed my initial reconstruction surgery was months of constant hospital visits and stays, multiple surgeries, and worst of all, a wound infection that resulted in me getting sepsis. On the 21st of January 2026, I had my final surgery removing necrotic tissue within my knee. This experience taught me how quickly life can change, and how to be ready to adapt any situation.

 

Resilience and Continued Pursuit of Passion for Business and Horticulture

While I was in hospital facing the severity of sepsis, I continued to study when I had the energy to do so. This resulted in me successfully achieving the Level 4 Conservation Certificate. Despite the adversity I faced with my health, I was accepted into Lincoln University to pursue my genuine passion in business, the environment, and horticulture.  

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I am currently a student at Lincoln University, studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce (Horticulture). Alongside my studies, I am in a position where I can commit to running my business and be of value to both now, and the future of horticulture and business in New Zealand.