The individual groups’ levy referendums closed on 13 August and independent vote counting shows resounding support. The levy orders come up for renewal every six years.
Commodity levy referendum votes are unusual in that the votes are counted in two ways: once on a one-grower-one-vote basis and again on a ‘weighted’ value basis. There must be a majority in both categories to get a mandate to continue the levy.
Horticulture New Zealand’s levy rate for this year has been set at 14 cents per $100 sales of fruits and vegetables, and this is expected to raise about $4.6 million. This is spent on grower representation across areas important to their businesses including biosecurity; access to land, water and people; research and development; education and training; and maintaining quality assurance programmes.