30 Jul 2013

Resource management cases consume 1/3 of Hort. NZ's income

12:47 pm on 30 July 2013

Horticulture New Zealand is now spending a third of its levy income on battling council resource management issues which it says are threatening the livelihoods of growers.

Outgoing president Andrew Fenton in Wellington that the organisation is currently involved in more than 40 difference actions with local councils.

That work cost it $750,000 last year alone.

The cases include an appeal against land use rules in the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council's One Plan, which is underway in the High Court in Wellington this week.

He warned that the One Plan is setting a precedent for growers throughout the country.

Mr Fenton's departing message was for the industry to stay united and to co-operate. Horticulture New Zealand, he said, needed to remain under grower control.