The public consultation is a standard regulatory process, giving stakeholders an opportunity to consider alternatives to the recommendations proposed by the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project Team.

NZKGI Chairman, Doug Brown, says the government consultation process is another step towards the implementation of the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project that the majority of kiwifruit growers overwhelmingly supported. “We are very pleased the government has included all of the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project’s recommended options in their consultation document. I encourage all kiwifruit growers to read through the document and submit their feedback through the consultation process. NZKGI will present a submission on behalf of NZ kiwifruit growers and this will be available to growers once finalised.”

New Zealand kiwifruit growers turned out in record numbers to vote in last year’s Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project referendum, delivering a very solid mandate for the future ownership, control and structure of the industry through the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project process. Two thirds of New Zealand growers voted during the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project referendum, and of these, 91% supported the ten propositions.

The key results in the referendum were:

• 98% of growers supporting the industry’s Single Point of Entry structure;
• 92% of growers supporting the implementation of a cap on Zespri share-holding;
• 91% of growers supporting a change to how Zespri is funded to maximise returns to New Zealand growers;
• 94% of growers supporting changes to their industry representation to ensure they determine grower equity decisions about grower payments.

Click here for the government's consultation document. 

For more information, visit: www.kisp.co.nz.