New Zealand Sports Turf Institute
New Zealand’s only full-service sports surfaces consultancy group specialising in research, training and technical advice relating to design and management of natural and synthetic sports surfaces.
New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI) is a member of the Labosport group, an independent, world-class sports services organisation.
NZSTI is New Zealand’s only full-service sports surfaces consultancy group specialising in research, training and advice relating to design and management of natural and synthetic sports surfaces.
Founded in 1949, NZSTI is recognised as the “standard setting body” for sports surface maintenance and management. We provide independent, scientifically based advice on all aspects of sports and amenity surface planning, construction and maintenance.
The NZSTI’s dedicated Training and Education department provides a range of training solutions to the sports turf and horticulture industries – both nationally, and internationally. NZSTI agronomists provide teaching and extension services at universities, polytechnics and ground managers’ field-days and seminars in New Zealand and throughout Asia. Almost every golf course superintendent or Turf Manager in NZ is a graduate of the Institute’s Sports Turf programmes!
NZSTI has five regional offices in New Zealand, including the national Turf Training Centre and Laboratory in Palmerston North.
Our clients include:
Local Government
Contractors
Schools and Universities
Sports Stadia
Golf and Bowling Clubs
NZSTI is the Agronomy partner for Bowls NZ, Golf New Zealand and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
NZSTI publishes the Turf Management Journal, New Zealand’s only dedicated turf management publication. This has an international distribution while also achieving full coverage of the New Zealand turf industry.


Team
The NZSTI staff are based in five regional offices throughout New Zealand.
Alex Glasgow
Sports Surfaces Solutions / Agronomist
David Howard
Senior Sports Surfaces Solutions Advisor / Agronomist
David Ormsby
Senior Sports Surfaces Solutions Advisor / Agronomist
Dr Andrew Mitchell
Research Manager & Agronomist
Brendan Hannan
Laboratory Manager & Agronomist
Chris Gribben
Sports Surfaces Solutions Advisor / Agronomist
Lindsay Robertson
Training Solutions Manager
Tara McLeod
Teaching and Development Specialist
Derek Ross
Sports Surfaces Technician & Tutor
Jeanette Salmond
Accounts Administration & Training Coordinator
Angela Marinkovic
Horticulture Tutor
Michelle Turner
Horticulture Tutor
Angela Stratford
Learning and Assessment Developer
Kelly Sauerman
Solutions Developer