New HEA appointments

Wade Armstrong (pictured) takes up the position of chairman. He was for several years the principal trade and economic advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) until his retirement in 2011. Since 2011 Armstrong has led negotiations with Indonesia for the ASEAN-CER Free Trade Agreement, and has chaired the World Wine Trade Group of major non-EU producers.

In 2012 he was appointed to a three-year term as a government director of the NZ Meat Board. Prior to 2007 he had a number of off-shore postings to key markets spanning his 40-year career with MFAT − most recently as New Zealand's Ambassador in Brussels.

Armstrong replaces Brian Lynch as Chair of the HEA Board. Lynch has served as chairman
since 2004. His service on the board was extended a third term to enable the principal
recommendations of the 2009 Statutory Review of the HEA to be put in place.

Peter Luxton has been appointed to the board of the HEA. He is an experienced international marketer, negotiator, value chain architect and strategist. Luxton began his career working for the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), where he held the positions of senior private secretary in the Office of Minister of Regional Development; NZ Trade Commissioner based in Vienna and The Hague; and NZ's Chargé d'Affaires in The Hague.

In 1986 he was recruited by the NZ Kiwifruit Authority to establish the kiwifruit industry's direct representation in Europe. Returning to NZ in 2001 he held two general manager positions at Zespri International. He now operates his own consultancy business. The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) Honey Association has recently appointed
him as independent commissioner.

Luxton replaces Sandra Martin on the HEA Board. Associate Professor in Agribusiness at
Lincoln University, she was appointed in June 2007 and has served two terms.
The HEA has a five member board, two of whom are appointed by Government, two nominated by Horticulture NZ and one exporter representative nominated by the Horticulture Exporters Council.

The two new members appointed today are both Government appointees.
CEO Simon Hegarty welcomes Armstrong and Luxton, saying their experience and
contacts will play a crucial role in implementing a reviewed HEA Act.

The Act is undergoing a targeted review to improve its appeal, effectiveness and net value in
accordance with the anticipated future needs of the horticulture export sector. It is hoped that the amended legislation may be in place by the end of 2014.