Tuesday, 11 February 2025 07:25

$8b export milestone

Written by  Peter Burke
Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg (right) and Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd spreading Christmas cheer around Parliament on behalf of fruit growers last Christmas. Photo: Facebook Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg (right) and Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd spreading Christmas cheer around Parliament on behalf of fruit growers last Christmas. Photo: Facebook

Horticulture Minister Nicola Grigg says she takes her hat off to all NZ growers for the hard yards they have put in over the last few years which have resulted in horticulture exports expected to reach the milestone of $8 billion this year.

She says this has happened even though the sector has had to deal with some terrible weather events including Cyclone Gabrielle.

"This 12% growth is absolutely amazing," she says.

The MPI Situation Outlook Report for Primary Industries (SOPI) released just before Christmas showed that kiwifruit exports this year will be worth more than $3.4 billion - up from $2.8 billion a year ago.

At the same time, applea and pear exports will make just over $1 billion. These figures are somewhat astonishing given that so much fruit has been under pressure from the after effects of Gabrielle and other adverse weather events, and in  normal circumstances, these figures would likely have been higher.

Grigg points out that to ensure that this growth continues, it is important that parliament gets the regulatory settings right, removes red tape, gets consistent rules right across the country and listens to the grass roots industry.

"My job is to get out to the regions and meet with the various horticulture sector groups and take their feedback to parliament so that my colleagues and other ministers are aware of the needs of the sector I am charged with championing," she says.

Grigg says while each of the sector groups have their own individual issues, in essence they are quite similar to each other.

Labour is a common concern and that is why the Government had made change to the RSE scheme.

Access to water storage are high on the priority list, she says, which is why a review of the National Policy Statement on freshwater is being undertaken.

The other issue she flags is one of access to capital for the sector and points to the inquiry into the banking sector as one means of addressing this.

"My job is to keep advocating for the growth of the sector and, so long as we here in the parliament get it right and the sector has the ambition and fortitude, then the sky is the limit," she says.

More like this

East Coast Expo delivers two action-packed days of events

The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Featured

East Coast Expo delivers two action-packed days of events

The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Sensors may aid early detection

A Research programme supported by Beef+Lamb NZ is investigating the potential of ‘accelerometer’ sensors for early detection of conditions such as facial eczema (FE) in sheep.

National

New Summerfruit NZ CEO

Dean Smith has been in the role of CEO of Summerfruit NZ for about four months, having succeeded Kate Hellstrom…

Machinery & Products

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Dodgy!

OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter