Bay growers voted to Horticulture NZ board

Kiwifruit grower Mike Smith, together with fellow grower John Cook, has been elected to the board of Horticulture New Zealand. Photo/File

Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers have voted to ensure their industry's voice will continue to be heard on the board of Horticulture New Zealand.

The two long-serving Western Bay men standing down from the board, John Allen and Andrew Fenton, have been replaced in elections by two other Western Bay kiwifruit growers John Cook and Mike Smith.

HortNZ is an industry association representing New Zealand's 5500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers. Horticulture is New Zealand's fourth largest export industry, with kiwifruit accounting for more than $1 billion in export earnings.

Voting closed on Friday to fill the vacancies, with the two Bay men winning from other candidates from around New Zealand.

Mr Cook, Te Puke, has an extensive background in agriculture and horticulture, including owning a dairy and sheep farm.

He has also worked and had investments in pipfruit, summerfruit and kiwifruit businesses in Australia and New Zealand.

He is currently a member of Zespri's industry governance development programme, new variety steering group, and Green 14 product development group.

He founded Zespri's 'BIGTIK' committee - Bringing Innovative Growers Technology in Kiwifruit.

Mr Cook has a Diploma in Agriculture from Lincoln University and received a Kellogg Rural Leadership scholarship.

Mr Smith, Tauranga, has been in the kiwifruit business for more than 20 years, with a background in dairy farming and the stock and station industry.

He is a member of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Forum, an alumni of the HortNZ leadership programme, and the kiwifruit industry representative to the Horticulture Industry Forum.

He also chairs the Green Kiwifruit Growers Association and is a member of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower Committee.

The new board's term starts at HortNZ's annual general meeting in Rotorua on July 28.