Kiwifruit growers begin referendum vote

The proposed levy, on all exports except Australia, would fund NZKGI’s activities which will include an increased focus on the monitoring and reporting of industry performance.

Voting started today and ends on March 24. The last referendum took place in 2017.

NZKGI says since then it has used the levy to produce significant outcomes for kiwifruit growers. This has included supporting growers through Covid-19, to advocate for the Single Point of Entry marketing structure, hold Zespri to account and to attract labour to the industry.

NZKGI chairman Mark Mayston is urging growers to vote in the referendum.

“It is in each individual growers’ interest to be engaged in this process.

“As we are seeing with issues like the proposed ban of Hi-Cane, the success of their business often comes down to the advocacy that NZKGI provides them.”

The referendums’ significance is reinforced by NZKGI chief executive Colin Bond says “this is an important opportunity for kiwifruit growers to make their vote count and we strongly encourage all growers to participate in the referendum”.

“Grower votes will show the Minister of Agriculture the level of support there is to continue the funding for kiwifruit grower advocacy.”

All growers are entitled to vote and will be sent voting papers. A grower is considered to be the “titleholder of kiwifruit”, meaning a person that has legal and beneficial title to kiwifruit when it is supplied to an exporter. The grower is sometimes not the owner of land.

Growers who have not received a ballot pack in the post by Wednesday, 1st of April should contact NZKGI on 0800 232 505 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..