Industry Works On Spray Drift Complaints

The spray season for kiwifruit growers is about to begin, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council is working with the industry to ensure that spray drift problems are reduced this year.

Hydrogen Cyanamide - or Hi-cane is sprayed on kiwifruit vines to promote bud break and ensure earlier and shorter flowering, and more flowers with fewer double and triple flowers which reduce fruit size. Using Hi-cane ensures there are more, and larger, fruit on the vines.

Regional Council Pollution Prevention manager Bruce Gardner said that if spraying operations weren’t strictly controlled, or were carried out in unsuitable conditions, it was likely that spray would drift over neighbouring properties.

Last year community spray action groups protested against the use of sprays, and the industry and contractors have been meeting regularly since to reduce the number of problems this season.

“With increasing urbanisation of kiwifruit growing areas, there’s more opportunity for conflict between orchardists and their neighbours. This year most contractors are using new technology nozzles which limit spray drift,” he said.

In Te Puna yellow warning cones will be trialled to warn passers by of spraying in the area.

Growers and spray contractors can be fined for allowing spray drift, or not notifying their neighbours when they are spraying. Mr Gardner said most of the industry was carrying out operations under correct conditions and spraying responsibly.

About 40 honorary wardens provided by kiwifruit growers’ organisation NZKGI are being appointed and trained this year, and they will be able to investigate complaints immediately. Rural Post delivery people are also being trained to recognise and report any problems as mobile ‘eyes and ears’.

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