• India and New Zealand to establish kiwifruit centres
• Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning
• Animal and Plant Health Sector Recognises Long-Standing Contributors

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India and New Zealand to establish kiwifruit centres

New Zealand and India are working together to establish four kiwifruit centres of excellence
across India, aimed at improving productivity for local growers under the countries’ free trade
agreement.

Dr Stephanie Montgomery, programme manager for New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science
Institute, is leading the Green kiwifruit project, with the first centre planned for Nagaland in
north-east India.

The project will focus on knowledge transfer, orchard production and supply chain capability,
rather than sharing commercially protected varieties.

Montgomery says Indian growers have been welcoming and keen to improve production, but
the project faces challenges including steep, high-altitude orchards, limited soil data and
poor roading.

Zespri says the FTA also provides greater certainty to grow demand in India, with kiwifruit
receiving zero tariffs on an initial 6200-tonne quota.

Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning

The discovery of live rifle ammunition and a shotgun cartridge at a Hawke’s Bay wool
processing plant is prompting an urgent safety warning across the wool industry.

Eight live rounds were found in May at Woolworks’ Awatoto factory, after wool from multiple
North Island farms had been combined. The source farm cannot be identified.

Chief executive Rosstan Mazey says the rounds were found in a tray beneath the wool
opening equipment, creating a serious health and safety risk for workers.

He says farmers, shearers and wool classers need to be more vigilant inside woolsheds,
particularly around duck shooting season when spent cartridges and live ammunition may be
present.

The National Council of NZ Wool Interests and New Zealand Wool Classers Association are
urging everyone in the supply chain to ensure only wool goes into bales.

Animal and Plant Health Sector Recognises Long-Standing Contributors

Two individuals with decades of service to New Zealand's animal and plant health sector
have been recognised at the annual APHANZ Awards dinner in Wellington.

Gavin Kerr received the Outstanding Contribution Award for five years as APHANZ chair,
during which he oversaw the merger of two legacy industry associations into APHANZ and
established the Emerging Leaders Forum.

The President's Award went to Awilda Baoumgren, Specialist Adviser Veterinary Medicine
Regulation at MPI's ACVM team, recognised for more than a decade of pragmatic,
evidence-based regulatory advice that has strengthened the working relationship between
industry and government.

Acting APHANZ board chair Fraser Hodgson says Awilda exemplifies the consistent,
approachable leadership that underpins good regulatory practice — and ultimately supports
better outcomes for New Zealand farmers and animal owners.

APHANZ chief executive Liz Shackleton says the awards highlight the people who deliver
progress through expertise, pragmatism and collaboration across the sector.