The Major news from the Nursery & Garden Industry of NZ is the proposed formation of ‘New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated’

The Plant Producers Working Group and NGINZ Board have commenced discussions with industry stakeholders on the formation of New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated (NZPPI).

An open letter from the Working Group - In a letter to all who make a living as plant producers and to all their suppliers and clients, the Working Group described their objectives and process.  They’ve identified a strong and cohesive model to enable industry to rise to “universal” challenges by working together, rather than alone. They urge all plant producers and industry members to attend one of the NZPPI meetings and seek support by way of membership ... read it here

A letter from the NGINZ Board to NGINZ members - The NGINZ Board unreservedly endorses the Working Group's model and will ask members to consider NGINZ remodelling to meet the objectives of the NZPPI model. It too invites members to the regional meetings and seeks their support through NGINZ's AGM ... read it here.

Introducing NZPPI - A description of the NZPPI model - the organisation's vision, key elements, scope of works, membership, representation and governance structures. Working Group members discuss their vision for NZPPI and the NGINZ Board discuss matters of interest to NGINZ members ... read it here.

Draft Constitution - The Working Group has established a draft constitution and the NGINZ Board will recommend its members adopt it as NGINZ's constitution at its AGM on 28 July pending conclusion of a legal review.

Regional discussion meetings for the NZPPI Model – June 2016

Six regional and two informal discussion meetings during June saw strong support for the model, and NGINZ’s remodelling. Attended by some 70 individuals representing 40 businesses discussion was wide ranging through aspects of the model, the opportunities it offers and how it impacts individual businesses, industry sectors and the industry as a whole.

Questions and discussion points included:

• That membership is voluntary, there is no compulsion to join
• The mechanisms for electing producer members to the Board
• How producer member’s fees are calculated
• Where growers who sell direct to the public fit
• How producers can work with their supply chains (for example suppliers, retailers and other customers) in Special Interest Groups

There were a number of matters raised that the Working Group will discuss when it and the NGINZ Board meet on 26 July, the day prior to NGINZ’s conference.

A sixth Producer Seat for the NZPPI Board

A sixth producer seat has been included in the NZPPI model following Working Group discussion feedback from the regional meetings and Board rotation processes. This Board position will be elected at large by all producers on a one vote per producer member basis. This new seat helps ensure that all producers have a link to the Board and help allay some concerns that NZPPI will be run by the “big boys”.

The other five producer-elected seats remain as linked to broad industry sectors with election voting weighted to the fees that the voting member pays. All six producer elected Board members will serve a term of three years with two retiring each year. Retiring members are eligible for re-election, with a restriction that no Board member can serve more than three consecutive terms.

If you’d like to discuss the NZPPI model, you can talk with a Working Group member (www.nginz.co.nz/pps), an NGINZ Board member (www.nginz.co.nz/board) or John Liddle at the NGINZ office, [email protected], 04 918 3511.

The model and recommendations from the Working Group and NGINZ Board can be viewed at www.nginz.co.nz/pps.