ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLICY

The target of the external relations portfolio is to build on community and local government relationships whilst being the advocate for kiwifruit growers on wider issues such as health and safety and resource management.

NZKGI responds to national and regional policies that have implications for growers. On these pages you will find information on national and regional policies, fact sheets and guidance material.

We have prepared the resources on this page in good faith. NZKGI disclaims any liability in respect of loss or damage arising from using them. We encourage you to seek advice on the matters as appropriate.

Water storage options

Changing climate is resulting in prolonged drier conditions. Growers having sufficient water for irrigation and fighting frost is critical.

Some orchards need more water than others. If you’re considering investing in a storage system, some guidance on options is available here.

 

No complaints covenants

Subdividing your property and selling a piece of it, near your orchard?

Your new neighbours might object to noise or other standard activities from your orchard (eg noise from tractors, motorbikes, agrichemical sprayers etc). This is known as reverse sensitivity. Neighbours can take action against you to manage the impact on them; and, in the future object to other activities that you need a resource consent for.

A ‘no complaints covenant’ is a legally binding agreement that can prevent such actions from being taken. The covenant can be registered as an instrument on the property title you sell off. It can also be:

  • a private agreement between you
  • a condition of the subdividing resource consent.

We’ve carefully drafted a template covenant agreement for growers subdividing their property.

The template is available here. You should seek legal advice about using it.

What kind of action will the covenant prevent?

  • suing for nuisance;
  • taking any type of enforcement action under the Resource Management Act (RMA);
  • making opposing submissions against an application by the effects-producing landowner to obtain new resource consents or renew existing ones; and
  • funding or being otherwise involved in any of the above.

If either party breach the agreement, the complainant may take action against the offending party.

 

Protecting your crop – frost fans, audible bird scaring devices, shelterbelts and artificial crop protection structures

There are many tools available for protecting your crops from pests and the elements. Frost fans, audible bird scaring devices (ABSD), shelterbelts and artificial crop protection structures (ACSP) may be subject to different rules in different regions. We’ve put together some guides and summaries of all the different rules.

Other bird scaring resources for growers and communities:

Please call NZKGI on 0800 232 505 with questions, complaints or concerns about bird scaring.

 

Government funding for growers

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have several funding and rural support initiatives for farmers and growers. Information on the initiatives is available on the MPI website www.mpi.govt.nz/funding-rural-support/