A major New Zealand producer calls for reforming the kiwifruit market

Bostock NZ owner John Bostock has criticised New Zealand's current kiwifruit export system, calling the national exporter Zespri "fat and lazy" and existing laws archaic. In his view, the industry needs deregulation similar to the changes in the apple sector 25 years ago. Kiwifruit currently remains New Zealand's only primary industry with a single-desk exporter system enshrined in the 1999 Kiwifruit Export Regulations.

Bostock has acquired commercial rights to the PSA-resistant kiwifruit cultivar Haegeum and plans to grow it in Chile, South Africa and Australia to bypass restrictions, although he would prefer to produce in New Zealand. He noted that he has his own export business and overseas clients, but cannot export produce independently due to strict rules, as he is unwilling to work with Zespri through collaborative marketing agreements. He also criticised the current licensing auction system for new kiwifruit hectares, where the license cost for the main SunGold cultivar reached $684,000 per hectare.

Zespri representatives defend the existing structure, citing record global sales over the past year of $5.9 billion. Of this amount, $4.1 billion came from New Zealand kiwifruit exports, making the crop the country's most valuable fruit or vegetable export. The company explained that license values are determined through auctions and reflect growers' expectations for future returns.

The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed that a review of the single-desk exporter system is not planned. The agency recalled that growers can enter into collaborative marketing agreements with Zespri to export their own brands with the approval of Kiwifruit NZ. Political party candidates in the Tukituki electorate expressed opposing views on the situation: NZ First candidate Tine Rundeel noted the success of the Zespri brand abroad and growers' confidence in maintaining the current system, while Labour Party representative Jo Luxton stated there are no plans to change the laws that allow farmers to unite into such successful structures.