Our History

With the introduction of the 1999 Apple and Pear Marketing Board Restructuring Act, a number of "Industry Good" functions were transferred from the NZ Apple and Pear Marketing Board to Pipfruit Growers New Zealand Inc. (PGNZI). These functions included much of the Research and Development, Integrated Fruit Production programme and Technology Transfer components of the industry.

To ensure the research components of the industry were able to be developed in a commercial manner, in January 2000 PGNZI established a limited liability company, NZ Pipfruit Ltd, to manage the grower's R&D and Technology Transfer functions. The establishment of the company, with obvious very close ties with PGNZI left the latter organisation clear to concentrate on the policy and representative issues of the industry while NZ Pipfruit Ltd could concentrate on the technology issues.

In January 2004 the developing overlap of roles resulted in the merger of PGNZI and NZ Pipfruit Ltd to form NZ Apples & Pears Inc.

In July 2004 the members voted to extend the membership groups of NZ Apples & Pears Inc. to include non-grower packers, coolstore operators, marketers and associates such as horticultural suppliers and consultants.

One hundred percent owned by NZ pipfruit growers and working for the benefit of the NZ pipfruit sector. The majority of the company's funding comes from the industry levy and the structure provides for clear accountability for expenditure.

Where does NZ Apples & Pears Inc. fit into the industry scheme?

New Zealand is a country that has appropriate conditions for pipfruit production across a wide latitudinal range. The key growing areas are Hawke's Bay and Nelson with production bases also in Auckland/Waikato, Gisborne, Wairarapa/Horowhenua, Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago.

Given the wide latitudinal range of our growing districts and the associated range of production-based issues, a centrally co-ordinated research and development programme is required. NZ Apples & Pears Inc. is the industry body that co-ordinates, directs and manages this programme. It is also charged with developing and maintaining an effective programme of technology transfer to the nation’s pipfruit growers.

NZ Apples & Pears Inc. is the liaison between growers and research providers. It relies on regular input from growers and grower representatives, particularly the directors of the company, and the regional and research consultative groups. The Research Consultative Group (RCG) in turn links to, and feeds off, information from regional consultation groups.

NZ Apples & Pears Inc. is also responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the pipfruit industry's Integrated Fruit Production (NZP-IFP) programme and operates a diverse technology transfer programme for all growers.