Newspaper Article 1994 – Fruit agency moves to Hastings

Fruit agency moves to Hastings

After spending 12 years in Wellington, the Fruit Industry Plant Improvement Agency will move to Hastings this month.

The relocation will allow the agency to foster closer links with associated industry sector groups.

The agency is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board. Its role is to introduce, manage and commercialise tree fruit varieties, acting on behalf of both the owners of new fruit varieties and the New Zealand industry as a whole.

The agency’s key activities are to identify and license new Hawke’s Bay varieties; introduce and license overseas-bred varieties for New Zealand use; activate the evaluation, release and reselection of varieties, and to collect and disseminate information. The agency is involved with pipfruit, summer fruit, avocado, kiwifruit, citrus, feijoa and ornamentals.

It draws expertise from all sectors of the industry, including growers, nurserymen, research and marketing organisations, quarantine and plant variety rights.

The decision to move was based on the recommendation of an internal business study completed last year. The study identified a need for the agency to develop stronger links with the sector groups it has contact with.

Manager Andrew MacKenzie firmly believes that the benefits of being nearer to these groups will better equip the agency to meet industry needs.

It will be on the first floor of Lowe House, Fitzroy Avenue.