Kiwi apple growers are applauding NZ action to force Australia at the WTO to allow in their fruit, but face a long battle after the Australian government said it would fight the case to the end.

NZ trade minister Phil Goff and farm minister Jim Anderton announced Tuesday that the Government would take Australia to the World Trade Organisation in the latest chapter of an 86-year row over apple exports.

"New Zealand has tried very hard, has been very patient and has shown utmost good faith in trying to resolve the issue,” said Goff.

The WTO case is the last option, but Goff emphasized the apple issue is only "an irritant" in the otherwise warm free trade relationship with Australia. He also conceded the case would take years to resolve.

The earliest it was likely to be settled was within two years, though it could be up to six if Australia lost and appealed.

Australian trade minister Warren Truss indicated his government would fight to the bitter end. But Goff said New Zealand would still seek a way forward with Australia while the WTO case proceeded.

Pipfruit New Zealand chairman Ian Palmer said the case was inevitable.

"We have tried everything we can, we've done everything required by Australia to meet the access requirements and they still won't sign."

New Zealand's argument at the WTO is buoyed by a successful US case against Japan, which also bans apples from countries with fire blight. Although the US won its WTO case four years ago, Japan’s appeal has so far delayed the sale of any US apples in the Asian country.