His dream has come true twice over, as a pair of Project Green participants have been awarded three-year horticulture apprenticeships at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Joseph Tapuni (22) and Karen Scott (19) have spent the past six months working at the garden through Project Green on weed control, paths and lawns.
The experience gave them both the confidence to apply for one of the four apprenticeships the garden was offering this year.
Ms Scott said the work opened her eyes to the gardening world and she got very interested in gardening and horticulture as a result.
"I'm over the moon," she said.
Mr Tapuni had been working in the rose garden and the herbaceous border and said he could not wait to get started on the apprenticeship.
Garden collections supervisor Barbara Wheeler said they had one nursery and eight amenity and horticultural apprenticeships in the public parks department.
The demand for the apprenticeships was high and candidates needed to demonstrate a great passion for gardening and learning, as well ascommitment to a three-year course.
Project Green participants received no preferential treatment, she said.
"It's really satisfying they have made the grade."
Mr Cameron said to see the pair succeed was a credit to the young people and the partnership between the trust and botanic garden staff.
The idea behind Project Green was to get young people into paid employment so it was "hugely exciting", he said.
