Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
6 mins ago
A passion for horticulture, the soil and seeing students succeed has underpinned Gordon Reid’s 19-year tenure at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale.
On January 31, the Horticulture Fruit Production/Trainees Programme Coordinator, lecturer and Principal Academic Staff Member, marked the end of his teaching career at EIT, and the beginning of his retirement.
“I felt now was the right time to move on. I have enjoyed my time at EIT, and the industry is in good heart with a good base to grow from.”
EIT tutor Gordon Reid, who retired after 19 years, is hoping to spend more time pursuing his interests, including fishing.
The land has always been in Gordon’s blood, having grown up on his parents’ orchard in York Road on the outskirts of Hastings, with his three older siblings.
Leaving school, he studied geography, progressing to a master’s degree majoring in physical geography. Then, after teaching at a local high school for 16 years, he turned his hand to growing asparagus and tomatoes commercially for 12 years.
The 2003 move to EIT was a “natural evolution”, he says. “I taught, I grew things and then I taught about growing things, so I quite like that as a nice tight story really.”
Gordon began as a part-time Horticulture Tutor, before specialising in the fruit production area. He has also been heavily involved with the Tertiary Education Union (TEU). He was a long-standing branch chair of the TEU.
He is most proud of the three-year programme for the level four National Certificate in Horticulture Production (Fruit Production), which he coordinated. And the recently added NZ Diploma in Horticulture Production (Fruit Production strand) [Level 5] developed with industry to provide specialist technical skills and knowledge in the fruit production sector.
Seeing the success of the programme is “quite affirming,” he says.
Despite retiring, he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
As a keen cyclist and fisherman, he plans on doing a number of cycle tours, and spending time out on the water. He is also interested in volunteering for the likes of the Department of Conservation. And when border restrictions ease, he hopes to complete his travel bucket list.
“My wife Diane and I have plans to just do some day cycling trips around Taupō, Rotorua and Mangakino. We’ve got a batch up at Māhia that needs some TLC, I want to build a fence and I am wanting to improve my woodworking skills.”
But his academic endeavours won’t stop. Having put his PhD on the “backburner” after his masters, he has aspirations of completing it now.
“It’s just been simmering away there for 40 years really. A PhD would cap things off.”
Paul Keats, the Assistant Head of School, Primary Industries, says Gordon has been an integral part of the faculty during his two decades’ service.
“Gordon’s been heavily involved with the Horticulture Apprenticeship Scheme and is valued by industry for producing quality graduates.”
Stepping into Gordon’s role will be his former student, Steven Hartley, who owns an apple orchard.
“We’re lucky to have Steve on board with his knowledge and experience. He’s really doing it to give back to the industry and help the industry upskill its workforce.”
Paul says Steven is “enthusiastic” about carrying on where Gordon left off.
“Steven comes from a background in fruit growing, and he’s also got his own orchard and grows apples. And he’s looking forward to imparting his knowledge and practice on students.”
He says they are looking forward to continuing training and working with the industry.
