James Blair Named 2026 Young Grower National Champion
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
Speaking at the annual Horticulture New Zealand conference in Auckland, Fenton said: "Jumping through the complex and lengthy consent process is the biggest costs to growers."
Fenton said that last year HortNZ spent 30% of its levy funding advocating on resource management issues, the issue was that serious.
"We understand the importance and need for the Resource Management Act (RMA) in developing and protecting our country's natural resources, but that's not what we're questioning. It's how local councils are implementing the Act. Their systems are stifling growers from improving their businesses and ultimately their communities."
"We urge councils to revisit their resource management systems and work closely with their horticulture communities, because at the end of the day its growers' livelihoods and thousands of Kiwi jobs that are at stake."
HortNZ has estimated the RMA has cost the industry up to $30 million over the last 12 months in compliance costs.
Fenton welcomed the work Minister for Primary Industries David Carter and the Government have done to try and remove some of the obstacles in the RMA system and said HortNZ would be closely monitoring progress being made.
He also recognised Auckland Council, and the Taranaki and Environment Canterbury regional councils which have consistently demonstrated a positive attitude towards working alongside growers.
