Apple and stonefruit industry members encouraged by constructive meeting with MPI

Apple and stonefruit industry members went into discussions with MPI on Friday afternoon to seek an alternative to the initial MPI directive to contain and/or destroy over 48,000 apple and stonefruit plants - which was deemed unlawful following a High Court judicial review.

A final decision regarding the future management of the 48,000 plants has not yet been reached, but the industry group was heartened by a constructive initial meeting with MPI representatives (which the industry group has been seeking for some weeks).

The industry group expects further opportunities to engage with MPI to continue discussions in the coming days, in order to avoid the need to seek further rulings from the High Court.

Justice Cooke had previously held MPI’s initial directive to be unlawful, but had issued interim orders maintaining the status quo for the plants and plant materials. These orders were set to expire at 5:00pm on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the day on Friday, a teleconference was held between the parties (the industry, MPI, and Justice Cooke) where MPI sought an extension to the interim orders.

The judge’s decision regarding an extension to the interim orders had not been confirmed by close of business on Friday but is expected very early this week.

The industry group is cautiously optimistic that a solution which is agreeable to all parties can be achieved without the need to go back to the Court.
Further information and updates will be made available as the matter progresses.

For more information;
Andrea Brady

Tel: +64 21 977 688

Email: andrea@catalystcommunication.co.nz