Our history
Potatoes, as we know them, have been grown in New Zealand since the earliest European settlement, including cultivars introduced by Captain Cook and American whalers.
Of course, before them, Maori grew kumara, or sweet potato. The potato is now one of New Zealand's most significant crops, and contributes to the livelihood of the more than 200 growers who produce nearly 500,000 tonnes of potatoes each year.
Until the late 1980s, New Zealand's potato industry was heavily regulated. Each grower could only produce the volume allocated to them by the New Zealand Potato Industry Board. The board was set up in the 1950s, with the aim of stabilising our potato industry. However, in 1988 the board was officially disestablished after a government review of all QUANGOs (quasi-autonomous non-government organisations). After that, potato growers were represented by the two voluntary agri-political bodies; the New Zealand Potato Growers' Federation (under Federated Farmers, which represented 'main crop' potatoes), and the New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers' Federation (which represented growers of 'early' potatoes).
After the Potato Industry Board was disestablished, it was decided to amalgamate the two organisations and make it a 'division' (later changed to 'sector') of the New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers' Federation (VegFed). However, wanting to keep some of their own identity, the potato growers won the right to change the organisation's name to the New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers' Federation.
In 2005 the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation combined with VegFed. The new group became known as Horticulture New Zealand and its various 'sectors' (potatoes, tomatoes, olives, kiwifruit etc.) became known as 'product groups'. The product group for potatoes became known as 'Potatoes New Zealand' and remains so today.
Collectively, Horticulture New Zealand represents 7,000 commercial fruit and vegetable growers.
The chairs and managers of each product group meet regularly with Horticulture New Zealand to discuss issues that affect the industry. Horticulture New Zealand provides strategic direction and represents New Zealand's horticultural industries on 'whole of industry' issues. These are issues such as the Resource Management Act, regional and district plans, the recruitment, retention and training of labour, climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme, transport, biosecurity and wider market access.
However, each product group - such as Potatoes New Zealand - picks up the 'micro' issues for its particular industry, such as reacting to particular plant diseases, or negotiating access for their fruit or vegetable to a particular market. All growers pay a levy that goes towards paying for their share of Horticulture New Zealand's running costs.
