A Coromandel kiwifruit grower recently received an email from California-based company Pollen Technologies, offering to supply kiwifruit pollen for artificial pollination. It appears the pollen is sourced from either the United States or China with samples available upon request.

KVH immediately alerted MPI Imports and Exports Group (plants) of the email and contacted the Californian company to inform them that: importation of any pollen into New Zealand for plant breeding purposes is currently prohibited; the company should not solicit enquires from New Zealand; and to immediately stop all promotion of their pollen products and services in New Zealand.

KVH included information regarding the National Psa-V Risk Management Plan’s rules and risk management around artificial pollination within New Zealand.

MPI also contacted the supplier to confirm pollen imports are strictly prohibited.

The company has confirmed it has not sent pollen to New Zealand and it will abide with KVH requests and not seek orders or offer samples of pollen to New Zealand kiwifruit growers.

If any growers receive any further offers of pollen or samples of pollen from a Californian, Chinese, or any overseas based company, then please alert KVH and MPI immediately. The MPI contact should be made through the MPI exotic pest and disease hotline: 0800 80 99 66.