KVH has published online updated information about the proposed new Pathway Management Plan and the intention to submit the finalised Plan to Government.

We recieved great feedback on the Plan during the consultation phases in 2019/20, which has resulted in changes and a refined proposal that meets the needs of kiwifruit growers and the wider industry, and is a robust plan for the management of biosecurity risk while also being pragmatic and practical.

We have incorporated changes from the consultation period into the extensive formal proposal document, which is available below (and online) so that everyone can see the final version being submitted to the parliamentary process and how we have taken feedback into account.

We have also produced a shorter summary of the feedback and submissions received during the consultation period and the changes that were made as a result. This is available below (and online).

The Pathway Plan will be funded by a levy under the Biosecurity Act 1993, with an initial rate of $0.004 per tray and a maximum rate of $0.007 per tray of kiwifruit. This levy will replace the existing levy for the Psa-V NPMP which will end in May 2023.

This means that KVH would effectively swap the NPMP levy for that of the Pathway Plan and keep KVH’s total levy collection from growers fiscally neutral and within the current total of $0.016 per tray of kiwifruit. For most growers we have spoken to this is key, and they support no increase in total levy take. However, it is important that we do spell out the details of this Pathway Plan levy and we have done so in the proposal and summary documents.

The Plan is expected to be submitted to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Minister for Biosecurity Thursday 22 April 2021. If you have any questions about the submission or any material feedback on the proposed content of the Pathway Plan, we welcome them. You can get in touch by phoning 0800 665 825 or emailing info@kvh.org.nz.

• Pathway Management Plan formal proposal document: issued Thursday 8 April 2021
• Summary of feedback and resulting changes: issued Thursday 8 April 2021

If you would like us to print these documents for you, please let us know by emailing info@kvh.org.nz.

The proposed new Plan and regulation framework is designed to better manage biosecurity risk to the kiwifruit industry. Instead of focusing on a single pest, like Psa, it focuses on protection against the full range of biosecurity threats to our industry and provides for a consistent and pragmatic approach to managing pathway risks such as young plants, budwood, pollen, orchard equipment and other items moved by people.

We look forward to continuing to work with you as this important new initiative progresses, so that together we better manage biosecurity risk and protect our industry, investments, and orchards.