A meeting held this week by New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) to discuss compensation for growers affected by severe hailstorms in May has seen growers vote unanimously in favour of providing additional opt-in funding to cover the extensive damage.
It was agreed that the existing Hail Fund, which is set at a maximum of NZ2m for Zespri Green kiwifruit and NZ$2m for Zespri Gold kiwifruit, would not be adequate and that an extra financial injection would be made.
As a result, NZ$1.4m in funding will be made available through the grower pool, siphoning funds that had been earmarked for use in crop management activity but subsequently went unused as a result of the hail.
An extra contribution of NZ$500,000 will also be made by Zespri, ensuring a minimum payment of NZ$1.75 per eligible tray of Zespri Green kiwifruit and NZ$2.35 for Zespri Green Organic kiwifruit.
'As a grower myself and president of the NZKGI, my heart goes out to those growers who could do nothing but watch the hail pound their crop and damage their fruit,' said Peter Ombler.
'Being so close to harvest time growers have a significant financial and emotional investment in their crops,' he added. 'So, in true kiwi spirit, New Zealand growers are pulling together to show our support to our fellow growers and this is further evidence of the cohesive nature of our industry structure.'
The hailstorms hit the Bay of Plenty region on 11 May this year and caused extensive damage to fruit on the vine, with approximately 350 orchards located in the affected area.
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