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The Minister for Primary Industries declared the Psa-V vine disease affecting North Island kiwifruit growers as a medium-scale biosecurity event under the Government’s Primary Sector Recovery Policy on December 5, 2012.
The kiwifruit industry is facing an unprecedented challenge with this disease. Since its detection here in November 2010, the Government has worked closely with the industry to provide well-targeted funding and assistance.
In the initial stages of the outbreak, the Government committed $25 million in a dollar-for-dollar partnership with the kiwifruit industry to assist with disease management.
The overall aim at this stage is to help the kiwifruit growers make positive decisions for the future.
The recovery support package available following the event declaration is designed to ensure that those hardest hit get the support they need.
The declaration means the Government will fund provision of services to help affected growers deal with the impacts of the incursion, such as access to technical information, advice and counselling support. The hardest hit growers could be eligible for income support payments.
This is the first time a biosecurity event has been declared under the Policy, which until this year was a tool to help farmers and growers recover from a natural adverse event such as a flood or drought.
The Government worked with kiwifruit industry representatives to ensure that the declaration was timed to give maximum possible benefit for growers.
While Psa was first detected in New Zealand two years ago, there was quite a time lag before it began to affect orchard incomes.
The package of approved measures is:
These measures are being made available through providers contracted to the Ministry for Primary Industries or directly from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
MSD and the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) also assist affected kiwifruit growers through a range of separate, existing programmes.
Growers wishing to find out how to access assistance can: