Environment Bay of Plenty says new measures are being introduced to stop the drift of sprays from kiwifruit orchards.
Hydrogen Cyanamide, or Hi-cane, is sprayed on kiwifruit vines to promote bud break and ensure earlier and shorter flowering.


File picture.

EBOP pollution prevention manager Bruce Gardner says if spraying operations are not strictly controlled, or carried out in unsuitable conditions, it is likely spray will drift over neighbouring properties.
This season kiwifruit growers are trialling new technology on their spraying devices, yellow warning cones are being used in Te Puna and the kiwifruit growers’ organisation NZKGI is training 40 wardens to investigate complaints.
Last year community spray action groups protested against the use of sprays, and the industry and contractors have been meeting regularly since to reduce the number of problems this season.
“With increasing urbanisation of kiwifruit growing areas, there’s more opportunity for conflict between orchardists and their neighbours. This year most contractors are using new technology nozzles which limit spray drift,” says Bruce.
Growers and spray contractors can be fined for allowing spray drift, or not notifying their neighbours when they are spraying.
Bruce says most of the industry was carrying out operations under correct conditions and spraying responsibly.
Residents concerned about any spraying in their area should contact the EBOP’s pollution hotline on 0800 73 83 93, of NZKGI’s hotline on 0800 232 505.