increase font size
Apple and stonefruit industry members are remaining optimistic, despite little communication from MPI.
The High Court deadline is at 5pm today, yet apple and stonefruit industry members are still waiting to hear from MPI regarding proposed directives.
Following a meeting last Friday, the first and only meeting since the High Court sent this group of orchardists and nursery owners and MPI back to the drawing board, there has been some limited communication from MPI, according to affected apple and stonefruit industry members.
The judge instructed MPI to engage with the affected industry members to seek alternative directives for the management of over 48,000 apple and stonefruit plants.
According to Kerry Sixtus of Pattullo’s Nurseries, “MPI recently shared a draft testing plan with us which is a critical element of how we propose to manage the plants that are in containment, and sets the scene for how long it may take for these plants to be released. Until we have clarity on the testing plan, we are unable to prepare for any commercial activity.
“At first glance, the proposed testing plan does not incorporate critical actions that were agreed with the MPI representatives at the meeting on Friday. We are working on our response at the moment, and hope to engage again with MPI next week.
“There has been no discussion about the revised directives with MPI. We can only remain optimistic that MPI will take on board the court order and narrow the original directives,” says Sixtus.
As we move into the late-summer and autumn period, much of the country’s fruit growing regions are entering operationally critical windows of the horticultural calendar. The question on grower’s minds is ‘what is the outlook for the March-April harvest?’
Hawke's Bay apple grower Taylor Corporation says a standout 2026 season, coming after a few difficult years, is boosting optimism among growers.
The most successful catchment groups in NZ are those that have 'a source to sea' approach.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Director General Ray Smith is giving a big shout-out to the horticulture sector, especially kiwifruit.
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Castle Ridge Station has been named the Regional Supreme Winner at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The South Island Dairy Event has announced Jessica Findlay as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship Programme, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
New Zealand and Chile have signed a new arrangement designed to boost agricultural cooperation and drive sector success.
New DairyNZ research will help farmers mitigate the impacts of heat stress on herds in high-risk regions of the country.
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) has released its latest rural property report, providing a detailed view of New Zealand’s rural real estate market for the 12 months ending December 2025.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons rural Manawatu families are the latest to suffer under what he calls the…
OPINION: If old Winston Peters thinks building trade relations with new nations, such as India, isn't a necessary investment in…
