Kiwifruit vine-killing disease crisis worsens

Jeff and Shirley Roderick have been in the kiwifruit business for 30 years, and are worried about the effect the crisis will have on their business and their workers. Photo / Christine Cornege

A vine-killing disease threatening to cost New Zealand's kiwifruit industry hundreds of millions of dollars is spreading.

Last night, 75 orchards were showing possible symptoms.

The disease, known as PSA and caused by bacteria, has been confirmed on three orchards in the Te Puke region of the Bay of Plenty.

Quarantine restrictions have been put on two other orchards strongly suspected of having the disease.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter said last night the 75 orchards that had contacted officials about possible symptoms was almost double the figure reported earlier yesterday.

"We're now seeing it more widespread than we would want to see," he said.

"It looks as though we are dealing with a bigger problem than we thought."

Mr Carter said his staff were checking orchards in other areas.

Whether the bacteria had reached them would be an important factor in making a decision on how it could be eradicated.

There was also a "very real possibility" that trading partners could block kiwifruit exports unless New Zealand could prove the fruit to be disease free.

Mr Carter said a decision on how to eradicate the disease would be made by the end of the week.

The disease could devastate Te Puke, which calls itself "the kiwifruit capital of the world".

Yesterday, workers and orchardists were fearing the worst.

A grower on the road where the disease has been confirmed - and where security guards are posted at an orchard's gate - said the possible cost did not bear thinking about.

"It's scary to think what the implications might be," said the man, who did not want to be identified.

Shirley Roderick, who runs an orchard with her husband, said: "We've been here for over 30 years, so of course we're worried. We don't want to have to start again."

Her husband, Jeff, said so many people could suffer - his workers, the community and the wider economy - that they had to be positive and keep going.

"Some nights you feel all hollow and unsure about the future. But then you wake up and the fruit is growing and the sun is out," Mr Roderick said.

The ministry has begun scouring the country for PSA.

Its checks include kiwifruit growing regions near Kerikeri, Nelson and Hawkes Bay.

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has received more than 40 reports of PSA-like symptoms from around the country.

The Ministry has enlisted the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to try to limit damage to export market access.

Kiwifruit exports are worth more than $1.5 billion a year.

Most of Te Puke's money comes from kiwifruit, and shop owner Murray Howell said business would be devastated without it.

Anxiety over PSA has already slowed traffic in town.

"If the kiwifruit goes bad, there's not going to be much reason to stay," Mr Howell said.

Kiwifruit worker Lorena Veliz moved to New Zealand from Chile with her husband and daughter two years ago, hoping she could stay.

"My husband and I, we're worried about our work. Our English isn't that good and I don't know what we'd do," Ms Veliz said.

James Trevelyan runs a cool store and packhouse that employs almost 1000 people during peak season and also has a 5ha orchard.

"I own a lifestyle block with a mortgage and six goats, and that's all I have," he said.

"Maybe I will be bankrupt if the banks had a go at me."

- Additional reporting: NZPA