Kiwifruit Hayward green on tree

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers (KGI) chief executive Mike Chapman has announced his resignation after more than ten years in the role, according to the Bay of Plenty Times.

Chapman will continue working within New Zealand’s horticulture industry, though, and will take on his new role as chief executive Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) in early 2016.

'The move was prompted by the fact that I have a strong belief in HortNZ as the over-arching body for the vegetable and fruit industry,' Chapman told the local daily.

'[HortNZ has] a very good and strong strategic plan to make horticulture a NZ$10bn industry by 2020. Helping in the development of government policy so it treats growers in the best possible way is something I'm really passionate about.'