Members of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. (NZKGI) are overwhelmingly in favour of the group funding itself via a commodity levy.
Eighty-seven per cent of those who voted in a referendum said 'yes' to the proposed levy, which would cost growers no more than one per cent of every tray they exported (other than to Australia) and would make NZKGI's funding independent and directly authorised by its members.
Peter Ombler, NZKGI's president, said: 'The support referendum result flies in the face of self-appointed 'spokespeople' and other self-interested parties who have recently tried to give the impression of widespread division among growers.'
NZKGI was established in 1993 and consists of 25 regional and district representatives, and 13 industry group representatives.
