Horticulture New Zealand's (HORTNZ) new chief executive, Kate Scott, says "unworkable rules" are one of the sector's biggest challenges, particularly for vegetable growers.

"In some parts of the country where regional councils have already gone through their plan change processes under the previous version of the national policy statement for freshwater, there are some highly unworkable rules, which means that vegetable production is constrained."

Scott said that the cost and ability of some growers to get consent could substantially reduce the number of vegetable growers able to operate, which will, in turn, hit consumers in the pocket.

"It will have a massive follow-on impact for the whole community, and what we might end up paying for fresh vegetables because of the costs of production associated with that."

Access to and storage of water also remains a continual challenge for the horticulture sector.

"How do we make sure that growers can access water not just for irrigation but also for frost fighting, which is equally important to ensure crops reach maturity? It's a really big issue."

It's not all doom for the sector, though. Scott says she feels optimistic about the future of New Zealand's horticulture industry.

"There is a huge amount of opportunity in the horticulture sector, and part of my attraction to this role is I think horticulture has got a really big role to play alongside pastoral farming to ensure that New Zealand can be prosperous and can deliver and meet all of our environmental obligations as well."

Scott has a background in planning and has a degree in Geography and Political science, and is no stranger to leadership positions.

In 2007, Scott founded the environmental science and planning business Landpro. Although she is no longer involved in the business on a day-to-day level, she remains an executive director.

Scott is chairperson of the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust and is deputy chairperson of catchment group Thriving Southland; and was a Nuffield scholar in 2018 and was a recipient of the Rabobank Australasian Emerging Leader award last year.

Scott said she has spent the last 25 years helping farmers balance sustainable environmental outcomes with profitable business.

She has a good set of skills for a role when the stakeholders in the sector are varied and complex.

"The role I have had in the environmental space has been about how we connect with farmers and growers.

"I have also had the opportunity to farm in my own right, and that brings a certain knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing farmers and growers every single day.

"Having that knowledge and empathy allows you to connect more fully."

Balancing environmental impact and profitability is an achievable goal.

"We have to evaluate the effects of a particular activity and weigh up the economic, environmental and social aspects to reach a good outcome.

"In my view, you can have a win-win for business and a win-win for the environment, and we just need to keep working hard to achieve that."

Scott was appointed chief executive of HortNZ on October 17, succeeding Nadine Tunley.

By Claire Inkson