July 28, 2026 • 3 mins
We head to day two of the Horticulture NZ Annual Conference in Wellington, where the chief executive says the sector appears to be “well on track” to hit a long-held goal of doubling farmgate returns. We also discuss RSE workers, the markets, and the RMA.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Day two of the Horticulture or hoart in New Zealand
and your conference, and Wellington Chief Executive is of course
Kate Scott. Kate, you've got the awards dinner tonight. How
many are you expecting for that? Good afternoon, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good afternoon. Look, we're expecting close to four hundred people
at our awards dinner tonight on top and that's going
to be a fantastic celebration of all things and all
people in our sector, which is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, eight hundred and fifty people attending the conference, so
it's quite a big gig. Let's just look at some
of the key talking points quickly. If we can RSC workers,
we're so dependent on them in this nation. Are we
making it easier for them? Are we going to make
it better for them?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yes? So look yesterday at our conference, Minister Stamford announced
some changes to the RSC scheme which has been operating
for close to twenty years in New Zealand. And so
those changes from our perspective are intended and well we
bring about some good amendments for the sector that in
(01:05):
particular helped to make the scheme easier to operate, bring
greater stut and tee, for growers, for employees, and for
the Pacific countries themselves, and looks just one example of
that is recognition that when RC workers are on orchard
that they can a simple thing such as being able
to drive a forklift. In the past they haven't been
(01:25):
able to, whereas now as part of their picking and tacking,
they will also be able to do simple tasks like
drive a forklift.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Now, I note that you were quoted in on Business
or in business desks this morning that the industry, the
sector appears to be well on track to hit a
long held goal of doublin farmgate returns for horticulture. And
I think this was set back in what twenty two
to twenty three something like that, and the aim was
to go from six billion to twelve billion, and you're
(01:53):
sort of halfway there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, we are halfway there. So when we look at
global demands fruit and vegetables for our sector, you know,
we have export our revenues forecast to exceed that nine
point seven billion for that twenty six twenty seven years.
So that's pretty good progress given you know, only a
short ten years ago our sector was you know, half
(02:17):
that size, and so we've seen strong growth and look,
the optimism in the room here over the last few
days certainly gives me, you know, the belief that our
sector are really committed to continuing to grow.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So can we fruit doing very well, Apple's doing quite nicely,
thanks as well. But not everyone sharing in the joy.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
That's that's correct. Look, there are certainly some of our
crops who are feeling the impacts of you know, increased
input costs in particular, so you know that is still
a challenge for those But look, you know there is
optimism there and I think you know, the first step
to actually getting through it is actually having a good
outlook and seeing the potential for the sector.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
One more to finish on the RAMA Resource Management Act
as the government going to make your life easier. I
know you had all the politicians there for a debate
well just before you broke for lunch at twelve thirty.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, look from our perspective, look, we've seen several encouraging
developments in terms of the government's proposed ARIMA reforms. I
think for us that explicit recognition of food and fiber
production within the goals of the natural environment. But it
was a really significant improvement We're also pleased to see
that reinstatement of controlled activity set us for consent applications
(03:30):
as well. And look, you know, we believe that it's
a really strong step in the right direction around ensuring
that you know, we can remove the duplication and the
red tape, but do it in a way that doesn't
compromise the environment.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture in New Zealand. I'll
let you grab some lunch. It's your lunch break and
I hope you fill your plate with broccoli and salad.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I sure will be. Thanks Jammy,
Day two of the Horticulture or hoart in New Zealand
and your conference, and Wellington Chief Executive is of course
Kate Scott. Kate, you've got the awards dinner tonight. How
many are you expecting for that? Good afternoon, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Good afternoon. Look, we're expecting close to four hundred people
at our awards dinner tonight on top and that's going
to be a fantastic celebration of all things and all
people in our sector, which is fantastic.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, eight hundred and fifty people attending the conference, so
it's quite a big gig. Let's just look at some
of the key talking points quickly. If we can RSC workers,
we're so dependent on them in this nation. Are we
making it easier for them? Are we going to make
it better for them?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yes? So look yesterday at our conference, Minister Stamford announced
some changes to the RSC scheme which has been operating
for close to twenty years in New Zealand. And so
those changes from our perspective are intended and well we
bring about some good amendments for the sector that in
(01:05):
particular helped to make the scheme easier to operate, bring
greater stut and tee, for growers, for employees, and for
the Pacific countries themselves, and looks just one example of
that is recognition that when RC workers are on orchard
that they can a simple thing such as being able
to drive a forklift. In the past they haven't been
(01:25):
able to, whereas now as part of their picking and tacking,
they will also be able to do simple tasks like
drive a forklift.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Now, I note that you were quoted in on Business
or in business desks this morning that the industry, the
sector appears to be well on track to hit a
long held goal of doublin farmgate returns for horticulture. And
I think this was set back in what twenty two
to twenty three something like that, and the aim was
to go from six billion to twelve billion, and you're
(01:53):
sort of halfway there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, we are halfway there. So when we look at
global demands fruit and vegetables for our sector, you know,
we have export our revenues forecast to exceed that nine
point seven billion for that twenty six twenty seven years.
So that's pretty good progress given you know, only a
short ten years ago our sector was you know, half
(02:17):
that size, and so we've seen strong growth and look,
the optimism in the room here over the last few
days certainly gives me, you know, the belief that our
sector are really committed to continuing to grow.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
So can we fruit doing very well, Apple's doing quite nicely,
thanks as well. But not everyone sharing in the joy.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
That's that's correct. Look, there are certainly some of our
crops who are feeling the impacts of you know, increased
input costs in particular, so you know that is still
a challenge for those But look, you know there is
optimism there and I think you know, the first step
to actually getting through it is actually having a good
outlook and seeing the potential for the sector.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
One more to finish on the RAMA Resource Management Act
as the government going to make your life easier. I
know you had all the politicians there for a debate
well just before you broke for lunch at twelve thirty.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, look from our perspective, look, we've seen several encouraging
developments in terms of the government's proposed ARIMA reforms. I
think for us that explicit recognition of food and fiber
production within the goals of the natural environment. But it
was a really significant improvement We're also pleased to see
that reinstatement of controlled activity set us for consent applications
(03:30):
as well. And look, you know, we believe that it's
a really strong step in the right direction around ensuring
that you know, we can remove the duplication and the
red tape, but do it in a way that doesn't
compromise the environment.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Kate Scott, Chief Executive of Horticulture in New Zealand. I'll
let you grab some lunch. It's your lunch break and
I hope you fill your plate with broccoli and salad.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I sure will be. Thanks Jammy,
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