The kiwifruit industry is investigating new legislation that may open up orchard ownership for younger growers, a young leaders breakfast attended by 70 people was told on Monday.

Guest speaker John Gordon of Sharp Tudhope Lawyers said legislation which would give kiwifruit vines similar status to trees covered by a forestry right may enable banks to lend money against the vines, while orchardists retained ownership of the land.

John Gordon of Sharp Tudhope Lawyers – legislative change could help young people enter kiwifruit industry.

Leadership is the ability to inspire others – Jon Mayson.

Seventy representatives of the kiwifruit industry attended the young leaders breakfast on Monday.

The kiwifruit industry currently lacks a pathway to orchard ownership like sharemilking in the dairy industry and a legislative change specifically for kiwifruit could be a way forward.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated CEO Mike Chapman says the idea is being investigated, as currently the vines could not be separated from the land for lending purposes. Doing so may reduce some of the financial barriers young people wanting to become orchardists face.

The breakfast, hosted by NZKGI at Zespri's headquarters, was attended senior representatives from the industry including growers, post-harvest operators, Zespri and Plant & Food to attend along with up-and-coming potential young leaders from their organisations.

Mike said the breakfast was designed as a chance to network, learn about leadership and explore options for the future, which could include succession planning for those who owned orchards.

John Gordon and his business partner Kylie van Heerden outlined the options and steps towards changing ownership, citing models for family and non-family businesses.

When the older generation came to sell or change the ownership of their business or orchard, the over-riding consideration was not always money, but who would be the right person to carry on their life's work, John said.

Jon Mason, former CEO of the Port of Tauranga, says the kiwifruit industry was experiencing grim times because of the impacts of the bacterial disease Psa-V, but it will survive.

He urged the industry to turn away from looking for someone to blame for the arrival of Psa, and instead focus on the future.

It was essential the single point of entry exporting status of Zespri be retained.

'Don't consider any other organisations. I remember the days of multiple kiwifruit exporters and it was utter shambles. If it could, the apple industry would have a single desk seller tomorrow. You may not always agree with Zespri, and it's fine to debate the issues, but retain the structure.”

Everyone has leadership qualities and the best leaders were not necessarily those who 'ride round on white horses making great names for themselves,” he said.

'Leadership is the ability to inspire others to strive to be the best they can be. Leaders are those who walk forward and take people with them.”

Self-belief and recognising that 'if it's going to be, it's up to me” is important to success, as is integrity, trust, vision and a sense of direction.

Iteration, a willingness to change, is vital for individuals and organisations to succeed, but Jon said success should not be measured in terms of money.

'Wealth alone should not be the objective but the outcome.”

Those under 30 at the breakfast were encouraged to enter the Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition in July. For more information go to www.younggroweroftheyear.co.nz/