1
9 Sizzling win for Hawke’s Bay butchery Vol 21 No 28, July 24, 2023
View online at farmersweekly.co.nz
$4.95 Incl GST
Kiwi growers stunned by rates ruling Richard Rennie
NEWS
K
Horticulture
IWFRUIT growers are grappling with punitive rate hikes of as much as 50% after a recent High Court ruling – in districts where urban ratepayers have faced only single-digit increases. The court decision means kiwifruit growers with SunGold licences have seen their orchard valuation increase by the licence’s value, in most cases about $800,000 a hectare. Previous rating valuations had not distinguished between conventional Green and SunGold vines as ratable “improvements”. This month a Court of Appeal ruling upheld an earlier High Court decision ruling in favour of Gisborne District Council, which applied the increase to Gisborne grower Tim Tietjen. Tietjen and fellow growers now face the prospect of significant rates increases, thanks to the licence’s inclusion in valuations. In his case that is a lift from $4000 a year to $8000 a year on his 5.8ha orchard, which includes 3.1ha of SunGold fruit. Ōpōtiki kiwifruit grower Adrian Gault has already seen the Gisborne decision flow into his rates valuation for orchards and orchard interests across other kiwifruit-growing council districts of Western Bay of Plenty, Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne.
Three years ago, he experienced a 48% rates rise on his Ōpōtiki orchard and has just received another 44% increase on the block this year. “My discussion with QV [the valuation company] indicates they have been instructed to include SunGold in the valuation.” In a statement to Farmers Weekly, QV confirmed the last valuation of rates in Western Bay of Plenty, the main kiwifruitgrowing region, was completed in 2019 and did not include SunGold licences. QV said that their inclusion in this revaluation has meant a significant increase in rating value for Gold Kiwifruit growers. Horticultural kiwifruit categories have increased by 54.2% in capital value and 47.2% in land value, on average over the whole of Western Bay of Plenty. “This is highest increase of rural categories but a similar increase to the urban growth observed,” QV said. However, rates increases in Western Bay of Plenty, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne and Tairāwhiti have averaged only 9%, against the 50% surges growers are being hit with. Rates on Gault’s 4.8ha Ōpōtiki orchard have gone from $8000 a year six years ago to $12,000 a year over the past three, and are poised to soar to $18,000 a year this year. “Over the last 10 years the increase amounts to 20% a year, Continued page 3
Ex-councillor opposes ‘council money grab’ Ōpōtiki kiwifruit grower Adrian Gault says the court decision to allow SunGold licences to be included in rates valuations leaves growers facing massive surges in their rates bills.
Global charity trucks in fencing supplies Rapid Relief Team brings in enough material for 250 Hawke’s Bay properties hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and its flood devastation.
NEWS 8 Admirable farming practices chime with consumers’ post-covid world view, SFF conference hears.
The directors of six National Science Challenges have called for a National Food Strategy for New Zealand.
The speed of change – too fast, too slow – is tough for everyone but they’re trying, writes Daniel Eb.
MARKETS 4
NEWS 12
OPINION 17