History

The beginnings

Kiwifruit seeds were first brought to New Zealand in 1904 by Isabel Fraser, a teacher from Whanganui, after one of her visits to China. At that time, the fruit was known by its Chinese name Yang Tao, as well as the English names “Chinese gooseberry” and “monkey peach.”

In 1928, New Zealand grower Hayward Wright developed a new cultivar, later named ‘Hayward.’ This variety remains the most widely grown green kiwifruit in the world today.

New Zealand’s first kiwifruit exports took place in 1952. Fruit from Jim McLoughlin’s orchard on Number 3 Road in Te Puke was shipped to England.

The name “kiwifruit” wasn’t adopted until 1959. The ‘Chinese gooseberry’ wasn’t a popular export in the United States (US). The fruit’s US importer told Turners and Growers (now T&G) that the Chinese gooseberry needed a new name to be commercially viable. Jack Turner of Turner coined the name ‘kiwifruit’, soon after the moniker was adopted industry-wide.

1960–1980

The New Zealand kiwifruit industry has its true commercial beginnings in the 1960s. The first industry body was established in 1970, the Kiwifruit Export Promotion Committee; followed by the New Zealand Kiwifruit Authority (Authority) established in 1977.

The Authority’s activities included:

• licensing exporters
• coordinating packaging
• setting export-grade standards
• promotional activities.

1980-1990

Kiwifruit production started booming in the mid‑1980s, but growers found themselves competing, and the pricing battle was contributing to a reduction in profitability. In fact, in 1987, 91% of kiwifruit growers were making a loss.

These pressures ignited an industry‑wide conversation about whether New Zealand should retain multiple exporters or shift to a single, coordinated exporting body; what is now known as the Single Point of Entry (SPE).

In 1988, 84% of growers voted in favour of establishing a statutory single‑desk exporter. As a result, the single desk exporter, the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board (NZKMB), was created. NZKMB made better use of economies of scale, set universal standards for high fruit quality, developed new markets, and invested in research and development.

1990–2000s

The 1990’s was challenging for NZKMB. Domestic and international kiwifruit production continued to rise, and the pressures of oversupply were compounded by issues of poor management and governance. As a result, the industry underwent further review and restructuring to its current form:

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) was established in 1994 to provide growers with a unified and independent advocacy body. The New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board was renamed, and Zespri International Limited was founded in 1997.

Kiwifruit New Zealand (KNZ) was established in 2000. KNZ’s role is to ensure Zespri is compliant with industry regulations.

A significant milestone came in 1997 with the commercial launch of Zespri Gold, the first successful alternative to the traditional Hayward green variety. This innovation signalled a new era of product diversification and higher-value offerings.

Early 2000s

Zespri Group Ltd launched in 2000. All growers became shareholders in the new company, with share allocations directly tied to their production: one share for every tray of kiwifruit supplied. This structure reinforced the principle that ownership of the marketing system should sit firmly with those who grow the fruit.

2010 onwards

In 2013, the Industry Advisory Council established the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project (KSIP). KISP resulted in a series of structural, regulatory, and governance changes intended to strengthen grower ownership, modernise Zespri’s operating framework, and ensure the long‑term stability of the SPE system.