Free thinker

Posted on 19-04-2011 17:43 | By Marcus Wilkins

Does Mr Bridges consider it a risk that Chinese plant breeders( or indeed any other offshore kiwifruit plant breeders) may lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organisation or UPOV about the lack of reciprocity as a result of their inability to establish and market their patented kiwifruit varieties freely in NZ?.Is the government prepared to put at risk the FTA over this issue ? What is the governments position on the current structure in terms of its negotiations with the USA for a FTA? Is the current structure on the negotiating table?

Dumb grower

Posted on 19-04-2011 18:42 | By goldenjade

Does the Government really know whats going on inside Zespri?? Simon Bridges clearly doesn't understand that a private company is not"The New Zealand Kiwifruit Industry"He should do something useful and ask why Zespri Directors who repeatedly accessed confidential shareholder proxy vote info are still on the BOARD????

A Choice??

Posted on 20-04-2011 11:45 | By kiwifruitgrower

Talk about hypocrisy, government pay lip service to free trade one minute, then support a private company which is a monopoly. A large number of suppliers are not shareholders, it is not a cooperative, there are overseas companies that have an indirect shareholding in it, and it has directors that are allowed to look at proxies as they like with no consequences. Why should growers be forced by law to deal with a company without alternatives? Where is the freedom of association that is the backbone of New Zealand society? How do we know Zespri is performing well, we have nothing to compare there performance with?

Posted on 20-04-2011 13:09 | By kiwifruitgrower

Is this hypocrisy, government pay lip service to free trade one minute, then support a private company which is a monopoly the next. A large number of suppliers are not shareholders, it is not a cooperative, there are overseas companies that have an indirect shareholding in it, and it has directors that are allowed to look at proxies as they like with no consequences. Why should growers be forced by law to deal with a company without alternatives? Where is the freedom of association that is the backbone of New Zealand society? How do we know Zespri is performing well, we have nothing to compare there performance with?

Duopoly?

Posted on 20-04-2011 19:23 | By AGROW

Why not allow a duopoly? Zespri and Enza are both well established and recognised New Zealand brands in world fruit markets. KNZ could accomodate this within the existing regulatory system if they see fit. Growers would have the best of both worlds, some freedom of choice and honesty in the market which only competition can deliver and at the same time a strong incentive from both sides to deliver the best returns to growers. A win/win for growers in my view.

free trade or no free trade

Posted on 21-04-2011 08:19 | By lee hoggard

Mr Bridges doesn,t seem to understand we live in a free trading nation. how can we expect to trade fairly on a level playing feild when we have a law that gives one company complete control over a billon dollar industry. if zespri is so good and all the growers want to stay with them then they should have no fear in a bit of competition, thats what drive,s buisness to great ness. a monopoly is never a good thing. T&G is not interested in destroying the industry as zespri would have you believe,theres no money in green any way,all they want to do is sell there new varities and in this country that should be a fundamental right