Zespri welcomes the Government’s proposal to make
targeted amendments to the Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Act
2022.
Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake says the changes will
deliver real benefits for New Zealand by protecting growers,
backing innovation, growing exports and supporting regional
jobs and communities.
“Innovation is critical to
protecting and growing value for New Zealand. In 2024/25,
kiwifruit returned more than $3 billion directly to growers
and their communities and supported tens of thousands of
regional jobs.
“Around 75 percent of kiwifruit
export sales comes from Zespri’s PVR-protected varieties –
sold under the Zespri SunGold and Zespri RubyRed trademarks
– highlighting the importance of a strong and effective IP
framework.
“Through the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre,
in partnership with the Bioeconomy Science Institute, we
have invested for decades in developing highvalue new
varieties to grow market demand and help growers respond to
rising costs and climate change. These varieties – alongside
continued investment in our brand, supply chain and building
demand – are delivering significant value back to
NewZealand.
“Stronger plant variety rights would
help the industry invest with confidence, protect value, and
bring more high-value varieties to market. They would also
support our goal of growing sales revenue by two to three
times by 2035 and support returns for
shareholders.
“It will also give growers more
confidence to invest in higher-returning new varieties and
the long-term future of their orchards, while giving
confidence and encouraging investment from businesses that
support the industry.
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“These amendments better align
New Zealand with international settings, helping protect
existing value, unlock future export growth, and keep New
Zealand competitive in high-value horticulture.
“It
is encouraging to see broad support for these changes from
the kiwifruit industry, the wider horticulture sector and
other stakeholders, including in the Bay of Plenty where 80
percent of New Zealand’s kiwifruit is grown.
“We
acknowledge the Government’s engagement with the industry
on these amendments and thank Minister of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs Cameron Brewer for his efforts, and
acknowledge the work of his predecessor Scott Simpson, as
well as the support this has received from other parties. We
look forward to supporting the next steps as they progress
through Parliament’s full legislative process,” says Mr
Te Brake.
ABOUT ZESPRI
Zespri is
100 percent owned by current and former kiwifruit growers
and has a global team of 900+ based in Mount Maunganui and
throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas. Our purpose is to
help people, communities and the environment thrive through
the goodness of kiwifruit, and we work with 2,800 growers in
New Zealand and 1,500 growers offshore to provide consumers
with fresh, healthy and great-tasting Zespri Green, Zespri
RubyRed and SunGold Kiwifruit. In 2024/25, we supplied 220.9
million trays (more than 795,000 tonnes) of kiwifruit to
consumers in more than 50 markets, and recorded global
operating revenue of NZ$5.14
billion.
Note:
Information on the Government’s
proposed updates to the Plant Variety Rights Act can be
found here:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/growers-benefit-govt-strengthens-plant-rights