From The Chair

For those of you wondering who this new Chair is, I’m a hands-on farmer based in Hawke’s Bay, operating a 2,000 ha mixed enterprise of process vegetables, vegetable seed, and cereals, integrated with bull beef and winter lamb finishing. I’ve been involved in research and board positions through Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), LandWISE, and Process Vegetables NZ, and gained a good understanding of the fruit sector during my nine years as Director on the HortNZ Board.

I’ll admit that when I was asked to take on the role of Chair, I felt a little out of my depth. It’s a position that can genuinely influence the direction of an organisation, and I take that responsibility seriously. My aim is to bring a fresh perspective to Citrus NZ, drawing on what I’ve learned from the industries I know well.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asking a lot of questions to understand the pressure points facing our growers. Like many sectors, costs are rising faster than revenue, and from what I’ve seen, profitability is at best, borderline. This has flow-on effects for levy income, meaning we must be laser-focused on value for money in every area of spending. The Board has taken a hard look at all cost centres and asked the tough questions about grower benefit.

One example is the Korean market access work—it’s a significant investment, and so far, the value back to levy payers remains unclear. When I visited Gisborne last week, I asked Professor Hamish Gow to talk about improving grower returns through the value chain at an exporter/grower meeting. What quickly became apparent was the need for consistent, agreed data across the industry – OGR, FAS and export market returns. The group agreed that, as a first step, this information will be provided by all major players. With better data, we can make better decisions and target the areas that will genuinely lift grower value.

A valuable insight raised at the meeting was that establishing a new market costs three to four times more than developing an existing one. This ties directly into one of our proposed workstreams: creating an export strategy and a clear evaluation process. We will also be reviewing our data collection projects to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose and deliver strong grower value.

Coming into this industry fresh allows me to ask “why?” – a lot, and to challenge assumptions. I’ve been impressed by how open and willing people across the sector have been in explaining the reasoning behind decisions and helping me understand the landscape. If it’s any comfort, many smaller sectors are facing similar challenges, and collaboration is increasingly seen as a way to amplify impact on domestic issues.

You are fortunate to have a very committed Board and executive. I would love to say we have all the answers—but we don’t. What we do have is a clear focus on delivering value to growers, and a willingness to question the status quo to ensure we make the most of your newly confirmed commodity levy – now officially signed off by the Minister and will come into effect in February.

I look forward to working with you all over the coming year.

Regards,

Hugh Ritchie

In Depth

Reflecting on the 2025 Citrus New Zealand Industry Awards Dinner

In September, Gisborne hosted the inaugural Citrus NZ’s Industry Awards Dinner, where more than 140 growers, industry leaders, and guests gathered to celebrate excellence across our sector.

The Awards Dinner followed a full day of practical learning, including an orchard workshop on 2D trellising, spatial motion, and spray optimisation, as well as Citrus NZ’s Annual General Meeting. At the AGM, members confirmed the appointments of Hugh Ritchie as Independent Chairperson and Murray Kendrew as a grower director — strengthening Citrus NZ’s governance and grower-focused direction.

The awards recognised individuals and businesses who are pushing citrus forward:

Emerging Leader Award: James Torrie
Acknowledged for his leadership potential, initiative, and fresh thinking.

Innovation Award: 73 Citrus
Celebrated for their creative and forward-thinking approach to citrus production.

Excellence in Orchard Sustainability & Practice: Maziki Farm,  Phil Evans
Honoured for pioneering work in sustainable citrus growing and environmental  stewardship.

Industry Champion & Life Membership:  John MacPherson
Recognised for decades of service and leadership, becoming only the fourth person to receive Life Membership.

Distinguished guests – including National MP Dana Kirkpatrick, Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz, and Horticulture NZ President Bernardine Guilleux,  joined attendees in congratulating the winners and reflecting on the strength of New Zealand’s citrus industry.

The 2025 Awards Dinner marked an exciting first for Citrus NZ – shining a spotlight on the talent, innovation, and passion in the industry.

Citrus NZ Interim Chair Tam Jex-Blake noted the significance of the evening and the new board appointments. “The appointment of Hugh and Murray strengthens Citrus NZ as we move forward and reflects the Board’s commitment to supporting growers and the future direction of our industry. The evening was also about recognising the people and businesses driving citrus forward. It was inspiring to see growers, industry partners, and supporters come together to applaud the incredible achievements of our industry peers.”

The workshop simply wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors.  We would also like to extend our thanks to Brandt,  Doug and Campbell Chrisp, and Tam and Dan Jex-Blake for kindly hosting the field day. We are truly grateful for your support and for helping us bring this inaugural celebration to life.

We look forward to seeing you again next year as we come together for the 2026 Citrus NZ Conference!

Industry Updates

Yellow-legged hornets in Auckland

Biosecurity NZ is responding to the detection of queen hornets and several nests in the Glenfield and Birkdale areas on Auckland’s North Shore. At this stage, yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina) have only been found in Auckland, and it is considered unlikely that they are present elsewhere.

These hornets are 2–3 cm long, have distinctive yellow leg segments and yellow faces, and are easily recognisable.

Yellow-legged hornets are serious predators of honeybees, wild bees, and other pollinators, and therefore pose a biosecurity risk to pollination-dependent crops, including many fruit and vegetable varieties. While they are unlikely to directly affect crops, any reduction in pollinator numbers could have indirect impacts. Hornets are not considered a pest of citrus.

It is not yet known how the hornets arrived in New Zealand. The species is a known hitchhiker pest originating from Southeast Asia. It is established in parts of Europe and was recently detected in the United Kingdom.

To support the investigation and ongoing surveillance, Biosecurity NZ has laid more than 120 traps in areas where female hornets have been found. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspected hornets or nests. Photos can be uploaded  here  or reported via the MPI Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline 0800 80 99 66.

More information about the hornet and the current response is available on the MPI website.

Xylella fastidiosa – A Serious Global Plant Disease

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the world’s most serious plant diseases. This invasive bacterium poses a significant threat to the citrus industry, where it causes citrus variegated chlorosis. The disease blocks water movement within the plant, leading to leaf scorch, chlorosis, dieback, and reduced fruit size and yield.

Xylella fastidiosa can infect more than 600 plant species, including native, horticultural, and ornamental plants. Overseas, it has caused severe damage in key crops such as grapes, olives, stonefruit, and citrus.

Citrus NZ, in partnership with MPI and our GIA partners — NZ Wine, Summerfruit NZ, and NZ Plant Producers Inc — has been working to strengthen industry preparedness and raise awareness of the risks this pathogen poses.

An awareness campaign is now underway, with detailed information on Xylella fastidiosa and the diseases it can cause in citrus, grapes, and stonefruit available on the MPI website. Citrus-specific poster is available in the members portal, under Biosecurity on the Citrus NZ website.

Your Levy Obligations: What Growers Need to Know

The Citrus Commodity Levy Order 2025 has recently been approved by the Minister and is scheduled to come into force on 24 February 2026. Under this new Order- and the current 2019 Order – all growers who sell citrus fruit in New Zealand are legally required to pay a levy on every sale of citrus, whether sold for fresh consumption or for processing.

Here’s a simple overview of what this means for you:

When the Levy Applies

The levy is payable at the first point of sale; growers are ultimately responsible for ensuring the levy is paid, although collection agents (packhouses, processors, marketers) may deduct and remit the levy on a grower’s behalf. All growers selling via the farmgate or at farmers markets are also required to pay a levy. 

In short, if you cell citrus for income, the levy applies.

Who Is Responsible?

The grower is responsible for ensuring the levy is paid. There are two ways this can happen:

1. A collection agent pays on your behalf.  Agents such as packhouses or processors may deduct the levy from your payment and forward it to Citrus NZ. Growers are required to inform Citrus NZ who their agent is so records remain accurate.

2. The grower pays directly. If no collection agent deducts the levy, you must calculate and pay it yourself each quarter.

How to Make Your Payment

If you pay directly:

  1. Complete the BCTI / Levy Payment Calculator each quarter. Download here
  2. Email the form to and .
  3. Make the levy payment using the bank details on the form.
  4. Keep copies of all records for compliance.

Quarterly reporting periods: January–March,  April–June, July–September and October–December.

Under the Levy Order, growers must:

  • Pay the levy on time
  • Keep accurate sales and movement records
  • Provide information to Citrus NZ when requested
  • Allow levy audits if selected
  • Notify Citrus NZ if a collection agent is paying the levy on their behalf

These obligations ensure the levy system remains fair, transparent, and effective for the whole industry.

Citrus NZ will be conducting an audit of levy payers early next year to confirm that levy payments and records are accurate and up to date. This helps maintain fairness and accountability across the sector.

Citrus NZ Mandarin Trial Blocks

At the end of September, the final trees were planted in the Northland trial block, meaning CNZ now has two fully established mandarin variety trial sites – one in Northland and one in Gisborne.

This milestone follows several years of selection and evaluation from the original germplasm block in Kerikeri. Across both trial sites, 12 new mandarin selections have been planted on a range of rootstocks. These will be evaluated by CNZ and growers over the coming years with a view to commercialising the top-performing varieties.

Navel supermarket monitoring for the 2025 season completed

Analysis of the data from the 2025 of monitoring the maturity of NZ navel oranges for the first 10 weeks of the season sows that it was another excellent in terms of consumer acceptability. Average BrimA levels this season were measured as the sixth highest on record due to a combination of moderate Brix and moderate acid levels. Overall, 94% of fruit tested met or exceeded BrimA 90 (Figure 1).

A summary of the season’s monitoring can be found here.

Thank you to the QC teams at Woolworths and Foodstuffs,  and the ongoing support from businesses involved in  the navel testing programme. If you have any feedback on this year’s programme, please email 

Clark Fletcher Memorial Citrus Bursary

The Clark Fletcher Memorial Citrus Bursary applications close on Sunday, 30 November.

Each year, up to $5,000 is awarded to a student studying at a New Zealand tertiary institution with a strong interest in the citrus industry – or to someone involved in research that will benefit the citrus industry.

This bursary honours Bruce Clark and Bill Fletcher, two pioneers who helped shape New Zealand’s citrus industry. Their legacy lives on through this award, supporting the next generation of innovators and researchers.

Submit your application (cover letter, CV, references, and a short essay up to 500 words) to . Full details can be found here.

If you have any questions, please email 

Grower Advice & Tips

Seasonal Pest & Management Update

Following last month’s article on nutrition, pest and disease control becomes critical at this time of year to protect young fruitlets and maximise next season’s packouts.

Australian Citrus Whitefly (ACW)

By the time you read this, the Spring hatch of adult whitefly will be almost finished in most regions. Australian Citrus Whitefly (ACW) is found throughout New Zealand on citrus crops (though some varieties are more susceptible than others).

Whitefly hatch in Spring from scale that has overwintered on leaves. Once flying, adults lay eggs and feed on fresh Spring growth. They secrete honeydew, making leaves sticky and encouraging the development of sooty mould. When eggs hatch (typically mid-December in Gisborne), the crawlers also feed on trees, diverting energy away from fruit growth.

There are two key control opportunities:

  1. Flight stage – Apply a knockdown insecticide (or foliar nutrition if pressure is low) to reduce the number of flying adults.
  2. Crawler stage – Use systemic products such as Spirotetramat (e.g. Movento 100SC) or Buprofezin (e.g. Applaud SC) to target the next generation and significantly reduce populations for the following year.

Bringing large populations under control typically takes 2–3 seasons.

Kelly’s Citrus Thrip (KCT)

KCT remains a major Spring pest, particularly in Meyer lemons, but also Yen Ben, Satsuma, and Tangelo. While it can be found across all citrus crops, the economic impact varies.

Thrip are attracted to flowers and remain with fruitlets as petals drop—this is when the damage occurs. Tight control is especially important for Meyer lemons during this fruitlet stage.

Control options include:

  • Knockdown sprays:
    • Spinosad (Entrust*)
    • Spinetoram (Sparta)
  • Systemic options (approx. 4-week control):
    • Spirotetramat (Movento 100SC*)

Note: Spirotetramat does not provide immediate knockdown, so when numbers are high, it should be paired with a knockdown insecticide.

Any insecticide application should be made following robust monitoring—either via a crop monitoring provider or by the grower. This ensures sprays are only applied when thresholds are reached and that IPM protocols are followed.

You can find the CNZ IPM Manual in the members portal on the CNZ website.

*Other suitable products are available

 

A Lighter Touch Research

CNZ, in partnership with the A Lighter Touch  Programme, is currently running several trials to identify new chemistry for ACW and KCT control. With limited current options and the likelihood of some products being phased out in the coming years, this research is essential to support future pest management. Resistance management remains an important focus. With only a small number of products available, rotating chemistries helps protect their effectiveness, and having new options in future will support this even further.

 

Citrus NZ Mandarin Trial Blocks

At the end of September, the final trees were planted in the Northland trial block, meaning CNZ now has two fully established mandarin variety trial sites – one in Northland and one in Gisborne.

This milestone follows several years of selection and evaluation from the original germplasm block in Kerikeri. Across both trial sites, 12 new mandarin selections have been planted on a range of rootstocks. These will be evaluated by CNZ and growers over the coming years with a view to commercialising the top-performing varieties.

International Insights

Sandy Murphy attended the International Societies of Citrus Nurseries Congress 2025 in August, held in Viña del Mar, Valparaíso Region, Chile, with the pre-congress tour in São Paulo State, Brazil. It was an opportunity to  connect with nurserymen, orchardists, and academics from around the world and came home with plenty of fresh ideas. Attendees came from the USA, South America, Egypt, Holland, Spain, Australia, Greece, and New Zealand.

Here are some key takeaways from the trip:

Citrus is the most widely grown fruit globally: Led by China, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, India, and Spain. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of oranges and orange juice, while Chile is a major exporter of lemons and mandarins, particularly to the USA and Japan. During the tours, we visited nurseries (some producing over two million trees a year!), orchards, research centres, and packhouses.

HLB (Citrus Greening): Researchers and orchardists expressed cautious optimism. One large orchard in Brazil reduced its affected tree rate to 3%, compared with the São Paulo State average of 20%, through weekly insecticide spraying, annual removal of affected trees, and replanting with HLB-free stock.

Research & Breeding: Around one-third of the congress presentations focused on HLB and its management. Some commercial citrus varieties now show reduced susceptibility, with ongoing research particularly in Brazil and the US.

Orchard Strategies: Some companies are relocating orchards to escape HLB pressure, although climate and soil limitations may complicate success.

Nursery Practices: In Brazil, seedlings and budwood are grown in insect-proof polyhouses with strict hygiene protocols. In some cases, staff and visitors must shower and change into supplied clothing before entering, or wear protective clothing such as spraysuits, hats, and shoe covers. In Chile, where HLB is absent, nurseries operate in open-air facilities without such protocols.

Diversification: High HLB management costs are driving some Brazilian and US nurseries to diversify into avocado production.

End Markets: Brazilian nurseries supply orchards exclusively, while Chilean nurseries tend to supply orchards, landscapers, and the public.

Citrus Varieties: In Brazil, about 85% of citrus is grown for orange juice, with Valencia, Pera, and Caracara varieties dominating. Fresh oranges are often purchased for home juicing. By contrast, Chile grows a wider range of citrus, including lemons, mandarins, oranges (including blood oranges, Washington Navel, and Valencia), limes, calamansi, and ornamentals.

New Varieties: We sampled around 20 orange and mandarin varieties being trialled in Chile for commercial production. Most were sweeter and had a milder flavour than New Zealand citrus. Seedless varieties remain the most in-demand.

Water Stress: São Paulo State is experiencing drought. Despite visibly dry orchards, trees were holding leaves and producing juicy fruit.

Packhouses: Citrus packing in Brazil and Chile is highly automated. Brazil has three major packing and marketing companies.

The congress provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, learn from global experts, and see firsthand the challenges and innovations shaping citrus production. The next congress will be in 2028 in Spain, with a pre-congress tour of Italy.

For questions or more information, please contact ">Sandy Murphy .

We thank Sandy for generously sharing insights from her self-funded trip.