Putting horticulture on the election agenda

With the next General Election in November, HortNZ has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining the priorities we believe are critical for the future of our sector.

We are doing this at a time of heightened global uncertainty.

The conflict in the Middle East is impacting international shipping, energy prices and supply chains.

For a sector like horticulture, which relies on timely access to inputs such as fertiliser, affordable freight and efficient export pathways, these pressures are being felt in real time.

Closer to home, issues such as the challenges facing processors like Wattie’s are impacting growers and causing concern in the sector.

Taken together, these factors point to a period ahead where both growers and consumers may face increased volatility, tighter margins and pressure on pricing and availability.

That is why it is important HortNZ is clear about what growers need now, as well as what is required over the longer term.

Our manifesto reflects both.

In the immediate term, we are focused on ensuring resilience for growers to work through this uncertain time.

That includes advocating for practical, near-term levers to pull to maintain the flow of critical inputs, supporting efficient freight and port operations, and avoiding regulatory or policy changes that could add cost or volatility at the wrong time.

At the same time, the manifesto sets out the longer-term foundations needed to enable the sector to continue its growth trajectory. These are the “slow burn” settings that require consistency and commitment across political cycles, regardless of who is in power.

The manifesto has been developed with input from growers across the country and reflects the issues we hear every day from people working in on orchards, farms and in packhouses across the country.

It also highlights the important role horticulture plays in delivering outcomes that matter to New Zealanders - healthy food, strong regional economies and good jobs.

The sector continues to go from strength to strength. The Ministry for Primary Industries’ latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report forecasts horticulture export revenue will reach $9.2 billion in the year to June 2026, reinforcing the sector’s growing contribution to the New Zealand economy.

At the same time, through the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan, industry, government, Māori and research providers are working towards an ambitious goal of doubling the farmgate value of horticulture production by 2035.

Achieving that ambition will require stable, predictable policy settings that support growers and remove unnecessary barriers to production.

For example, resource management reform is already underway. Growers need confidence that this work will continue in a consistent direction, rather than being reset or reversed following the election.

Stop-start policy settings create uncertainty, delay investment and ultimately hold the sector back.

A strong biosecurity system remains one of the foundations of our sector.

Growers know first-hand the risks that pests such as fruit fly and plant diseases pose to production and export markets.

Strengthening biosecurity, alongside ensuring continued access to effective crop protection tools, will be critical to maintaining productivity and protecting New Zealand’s reputation for high-quality produce.

Growers also consistently raise the need to cut unnecessary red tape.

Our sector is committed to high environmental and food safety standards, but too often the regulatory system involves duplication, unclear processes or overlapping requirements.

Streamlining regulation and reducing unnecessary compliance costs would make a real difference on the ground.

Water security is another major priority. Reliable access to water underpins productive horticulture, particularly as we face a changing climate and more frequent severe weather events.

Ensuring sustainable and enduring water security, alongside practical approaches to climate adaptation, will be essential if the sector is to remain resilient and continue growing.

People underpin the industry.

Horticulture provides meaningful employment and career opportunities in regions across New Zealand, and a secure workforce is critical.

The Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme plays an important role, and we need long-term certainty along with pathways that support worker development.

Building a skilled and sustainable workforce - through training, career pathways and practical labour settings - will help ensure growers have access to the people they need, both now and into the future.

The manifesto also highlights the importance of fair and competitive grocery markets. Growers should be able to compete on a level playing field and receive a fair return for the food they produce, particularly in a period where cost pressures are increasing across the supply chain.

Infrastructure remains a critical enabler.

Reliable roads, efficient ports and resilient supply chains are essential for getting fresh produce to market quickly and maintaining quality.

Recent analysis through the Aotearoa Horticulture Action Plan highlights how dependent regions such as Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay are on key routes and hubs, creating vulnerabilities for highly perishable products.

Over the coming months, we will be meeting with Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum to discuss our manifesto.

Our aim is to ensure decision-makers understand both the immediate pressures facing growers, and the long-term opportunity horticulture represents for New Zealand’s food security, regional prosperity and export growth.

With the right policy settings in place - and a focus on both resilience and growth –-horticulture can continue to be one of New Zealand’s standout sectors, delivering healthy food for New Zealanders, supporting regional communities and building a strong future for growers.