Kiwifruit marketer responds to claims it is holding back development opportunities for indigenous growers on shared land
A government minister in New Zealand has accused exporter Zespri of failing to allow Māori landowners to enter the country’s kiwifruit industry.
As reported in the NZ Herald, regional development minister Shane Jones said the company’s apparent failure to make orchard lease arrangements available was holding back Māori development.
He argued that it denied opportunities to those on land with shared ownership, as is the case with many Māori holdings.
Jones is regarded by many as a divisive public figure on issues related to Māori tribes and culture, and has recently been at odds with their leaders and advocates over issues related to treaty rights, language policy, and indigenous governance.
So his apparent support for Māori landowners might raise one or two eyebrows on all sides of New Zealand’s political spectrum.
Zespri, for its part, rejected the criticism, pointing out to the newspaper that Māori growers have a “significant presence” in the industry.
It was also quoted as saying that it continues to work to increase their numbers and address barriers to entry.
The company is due to attend an awards ceremony this evening in Whangarei, in the Northland region, that celebrates excellence in Māori horticulture.
Fruitnet understands there will be three kiwifruit growers that sell their fruit through Zespri among those nominated for awards.
