Matt grew up in the Gisborne region on his family’s vineyard and had always hoped to work on the land one day. When the opportunity arose for Matt to join Thompson’s Horticulture as assistant orchard manager and up-skill with John Phelps as his trainer he grabbed hold with both hands.

Matt spent 10 years working in the building industry and six of those he worked for himself running a small but successful building company. Through owning his own business Matt brings relationship management, multi-site project management and administrative skills to Thompsons. He also brings with him his love for the land, years of working on his parent’s orchard giving him lots of the core on-orchard skills and a strong work ethic. Matt is keen to hone his horticultural skills to forge a new career path for himself.

Matt loves the Gisborne region and is stoked to be working in the horticultural industry as it such a big part of what makes Gisborne successful. Matt and his wife have two little children who keep them very busy but Matt also enjoys surfing, fishing and making furniture.