Growers Welcome Court Judgment

16 AUGUST 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Growers Welcome Court Judgment

Kiwifruit growers have welcomed Justice White’s judgment in the Turners and Growers High Court Case delivered last Friday as a significant milestone for the kiwifruit industry.

The effect of the judgment is twofold.

The Regulations setting up the kiwifruit industry’s structure are legal.

The industry regulator Kiwifruit New Zealand in the first instance has exclusive jurisdiction to determine complaints made about ZESPRI compliance with the industry’s regulatory regime.

“We're extremely pleased with the judgement, but not surprised,” commented Peter Ombler, President of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated. “We now look forward to putting this matter behind us, and getting on with growing and selling kiwifruit as well as possible, as we've been successful.”

Mr Ombler believes that the security this judgement gives growers is hugely significant in building confidence to further grow and develop the kiwifruit industry with new and existing cultivars into the future. “This is a very powerful Judgment for our industry which serves to strength the industry structure and the associated Regulatory Regime.”

The single desk model growers chose more than 20 years ago has proven itself to be very successful, and as recently as February of this year that overwhelming support for the current industry single desk structure was reinforced by way of an independent poll. As Justice White observes in his Judgment “The single desk regime will only survive with industry support”. The fact it has survived is because kiwifruit growers support it and continue to support it today.

“NZKGI looks forward to working with our industry partners and contributing to an export led recovery for New Zealand long into the future” said Mr Ombler. “Kiwifruit growers are excited by the opportunities ahead.”

ENDS

About New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI)

NZKGI was established in 1993 to represent New Zealand’s 3,500 kiwifruit growers and give growers their own voice in industry and government decision making and was formed following the downturn in the kiwifruit industry in the early 1990’s.

NZKGI’s VISION is to be a strong grower organisation that demonstrates industry leadership in which growers and other industry participants actively participate.

NZKGI’s MISSION is to represent, protect and enhance the commercial and political interests of New Zealand Kiwifruit growers.

NZKGI’s Grower Forum consists of 25 regional and district representatives and 13 industry group representatives. Forum members are elected every three years by all kiwifruit growers via a postal ballot.

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