International fellowship for Warrington a first for NZ

Former Massey University Professor, Ian Warrington, has been made a Fellow of the International Society for Horticultural Science at the society's Horticultural Congress General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal, today.

Professor Warrington is the first New Zealander to receive such recognition in the society's 60-year history and one of only six scientists worldwide to hold the fellowship, which recognises a member of the society who has made an outstanding contribution to horticultural science worldwide. The society has more than 7500 members in more than 90 countries.

Professor Warrington, of Palmerston North, grew up in Hastings, enrolled at Massey in 1965, graduating with a first-class Master of Horticultural Science degree in 1972 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1989. He had a 30-year career with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and became known nationally and internationally for his research work in the environmental effects on plant growth and on improving the training and management methods for apples and kiwifruit. The work helped to develop new export flower crops, such as nerines. His roles at Massey since 2002 include Professor of Horticultural Science, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and acting Vice-Chancellor prior to the arrival of the current Vice-Chancellor, Steve Maharey. His most recent role at Massey was as Manawatu regional chief executive, until he left in May. He remains closely connected with the University, including in contract roles.

He has published more than 120 refereed papers, primarily in the area of environmental physiology, and co-edited the books Kiwifruit: Science and Management and Apples: Botany, Production and Uses, which detail research and production information on these crops from around the world. In 1994, he became the first New Zealander to be made a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and a Fellow of the New Zealand Society for Horticultural Science. In 2001 Massey awarded him and honorary degree in literature.

He has been the society's vice-president with responsibility for scientific programmes and is the co-president of the 29th International Horticultural Congress to be held in Brisbane in 2014.