News kiwifruit marketer Zespri is seeking to lease a section of vacant land in Miro Street has prompted the Te Puke Economic Development Group for Zespri to offer an alternative.

The group's managing director Mark Boyle says Te Puke is the ideal location to host temporary office accommodation for Zespri staff.

Concerned resident Paul Knights does not want the additional Zespri accomodation at Miro Street.

Zespri has applied to Tauranga City Council to place temporary dwellings in the Miro Street parkland opposite its Mount Maunganui offices for two years.

The proposal has prompted concern from nearby neighbours and lead Mark to propose another option.

Recognised as the ‘kiwifruit capital of the world', Te Puke can offer both short and medium term solutions to Zespri's need, he says.

'In the short term we have a number of existing commercial properties that could be set up for office operations.

'Te Puke is a short 20 minute travel time to Zespri Headquarters at Mount Maunganui and Te Puke would welcome a Zespri presence in the town.

'This would be a cost effective short term solution as opposed to planning approvals, temporary office construction or placement and placating Mount Maunganui locals who are concerned with green space invasion.”

In the medium to long term, The Rangiuru Business Park is the perfect site for a permanent Zespri Headquarters, says Mark.

With the opening of the new Tauranga Eastern Link in mid-2015, travel times to Tauranga and the Port will be a maximum of 20 minutes.

Rangiuru is at the centre of kiwifruit growing and the Post Harvest Industry, says Mark.

'This greenfield site will allow Zespri to plan and implement a purpose-built facility to match the growth of the industry over the coming decades.”

Immediate proximity to Kiwi 360 and its international tourism operation centred around kiwifruit is another compelling reason, he says.

'Our local infrastructure can support a facility of this kind and the location may well appeal to staff who could benefit from new high quality affordable housing developments under construction in Paengaroa and Te Puke.

'I have no doubt that all of this would be welcomed by grower shareholders and Te Puke locals.

'Te Puke EDG would love to host Lain Jager and his management team for a few hours in Te Puke to highlight what we can offer both short and long term. I am sure we can make a compelling case.”

Te Puke's invitation was passed to Zespri.

A Zespri spokesperson told SunLive they're taking the time to make sure they get the right site for their needs.

'In the short term, we do not want to split the Zespri campus on different locations due to complexities of our business during this growth period, with fruit volumes set to increase strongly over the next few years.

'Zespri will consider the range of viable sites in the region for our new long-term offices, including potentially redeveloping our current site, once we have confirmed our short-term office accommodation requirements.”