New Zealand Agriculture

Outlook for Kiwi Production Is Bleak: New Zealand, the country that developed the kiwi fruit into an international product, may be squeezed out of the market by foreign competition, the Ministry of Agriculture warned in its annual report. The report said things are looking bleak for wool and kiwi exports but dairy and sheep meat products, venison and wines hold more export promise. The ministry questioned whether the $540-million kiwi industry has any future at all.

For trade and commerce, this tiny country of about 3.5 million people has traditionally dependent on Australia and Britain, from which it gained independence in 1947. It recently began expanding its reach, aggressively seeking trade ties with and investment from North America and the booming Asian countries. The Economy In the late 1980s and early 90s, New Zealand experienced its worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

For trade and commerce, this tiny country of about 3.5 million people has traditionally dependent on Australia and Britain, from which it gained independence in 1947. It recently began expanding its reach, aggressively seeking trade ties with and investment from North America and the booming Asian countries. The Economy In the late 1980s and early 90s, New Zealand experienced its worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Outlook for Kiwi Production Is Bleak: New Zealand, the country that developed the kiwi fruit into an international product, may be squeezed out of the market by foreign competition, the Ministry of Agriculture warned in its annual report. The report said things are looking bleak for wool and kiwi exports but dairy and sheep meat products, venison and wines hold more export promise. The ministry questioned whether the $540-million kiwi industry has any future at all.

New Zealanders Cited for Dumping: The U.S. Commerce Department said it has determined that New Zealand kiwi growers have been selling their fruit in the United States at less than fair market value, a practice known as dumping. The California Kiwifruit Commission had accused the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board of unfair trade. If the U.S. International Trade Commission determines that the New Zealand practices hurt the American kiwi industry, the U.S.

A sheep dog leaped across a band of ewes bottled up at a paddock ramp leading into a huge stock truck. Barking incessantly, the dog nipped at the newly shorn sheep to force them up the ramp. "Good dog! Good Babe!" shouted red-headed sheep farmer Brian Oliver, 38, moving 1,000 ewes from his high country ranch near Tongario National Park to another farm. Sheep are everywhere in this island nation. New Zealand has 20 times as many sheep as people--67 million versus 3.3 million.

The kiwi, the green fruit with a furry skin, has turned sour for New Zealand and is being left to rot on thousands of vines. The head of the New Zealand Kiwi Marketing Board, Bruce Honeybone, announced that he was quitting, another victim of an industry that tried to turn a luxury adornment into a common fruit. New Zealand pioneered changes in the small Chinese gooseberry in the 1970s and 1980s, renaming it the kiwi.

For sheer economic and governmental reform, the Republicans' much-touted Contract With America can't hold a candle to the "Contract With New Zealand" that both major political parties in that South Pacific island nation have supported for more than a decade. In 1984, New Zealand's budget deficit had reached 9.5% of the country's output of goods and services, or gross domestic product. (For comparison, the U.S. budget deficit is less than 3% of GDP).

The kiwi, the green fruit with a furry skin, has turned sour for New Zealand and is being left to rot on thousands of vines. The head of the New Zealand Kiwi Marketing Board, Bruce Honeybone, announced that he was quitting, another victim of an industry that tried to turn a luxury adornment into a common fruit. New Zealand pioneered changes in the small Chinese gooseberry in the 1970s and 1980s, renaming it the kiwi.

New Zealanders Cited for Dumping: The U.S. Commerce Department said it has determined that New Zealand kiwi growers have been selling their fruit in the United States at less than fair market value, a practice known as dumping. The California Kiwifruit Commission had accused the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board of unfair trade. If the U.S. International Trade Commission determines that the New Zealand practices hurt the American kiwi industry, the U.S.

A sheep dog leaped across a band of ewes bottled up at a paddock ramp leading into a huge stock truck. Barking incessantly, the dog nipped at the newly shorn sheep to force them up the ramp. "Good dog! Good Babe!" shouted red-headed sheep farmer Brian Oliver, 38, moving 1,000 ewes from his high country ranch near Tongario National Park to another farm. Sheep are everywhere in this island nation. New Zealand has 20 times as many sheep as people--67 million versus 3.3 million.