Organisation was formed on 1 December 2005 through a merger of three long-standing grower bodies
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has marked 20 years of championing one of the country’s most dynamic and resilient sectors.
The organisation was formed on 1 December 2005 through the merger of three long-standing grower bodies: the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation (established 1916), the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation (established 1957), and the New Zealand Berryfruit Federation (established 1978).
HortNZ chair Bernadine Guilleux said the goal at the time was to unite growers and ensure they had a strong, effective voice.
“Twenty years on, the value of critical mass and co-ordinated, cross-sector effort is clear,” Guilleux said.
“Horticulture has grown from 8 per cent of primary sector exports in 2005 to 14 per cent today. Sustained investment in research, innovation and advocacy has helped shape a profitable, sustainable sector respected worldwide.”
Major milestones over the past two decades include the creation of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, the development of the New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP), and industry-wide responses to challenges such as Covid-19 and the Psa outbreak in kiwifruit.
“New Zealand’s RSE scheme is now a global benchmark for ethical seasonal labour, providing growers with a reliable workforce while delivering significant economic and social benefits for Pacific communities,” Guilleux said.
“NZGAP has become one of horticulture’s most significant achievements, giving growers a trusted domestic assurance system that meets the expectations of regulators, retailers and increasingly discerning consumers.
“And the sector’s response to Psa turned a crisis into a platform for future growth. Kiwifruit is now a key driver of record export revenue.”
While grower numbers have consolidated from more than 7,000 in 2005 to around 4,300 today, the total area under horticultural production has increased.
Guilleux said innovation and technology had reshaped the sector.
“Protected cropping, precision horticulture, improved water management and automation are transforming how we grow,” Guilleux said. “Alongside kiwifruit, crops such as apples, cherries and berries are now securing strong premiums around the world thanks to new genetics, market development and post-harvest advances.”
In 2023 the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan (AHAP) was launched which sets a pathway to double the farmgate value of horticultural production by 2035.
“The same spirit of collaboration that had defined the past 20 years will be critical to achieving this ambition,” Guilleux said.
“It’s the hard work, commitment and passion of growers – producing high-quality food for New Zealand and the world – that has made this milestone possible.
“We look forward to the next two decades, standing alongside growers to drive an even stronger and more sustainable future so New Zealand horticulture can continue to thrive.”