Andrew Fenton awarded Bledisloe Cup for 2025

The Horticulture Bledisloe Cup for 2025 is presented to Andrew Fenton.

For more than five decades, Andrew has brought his passion for the industry, his experience, practical common-sense approach and constructive and positive team attitude to so many in the sector.

Andrew has a deep interest in industry good matters, in kiwifruit and the wider horticulture industry that benefit all growers and he truly enjoys making a leadership contribution to industry progress and advocacy.

In his governance roles, he is widely respected as a balanced and considered strategic thinker. He is focused on identifying and solving problems and supporting the organisations he works with to make the most of opportunities.

Andrew began his career in the sector in the 1970s developing kiwifruit properties in Te Puke and becoming vice chairman of the Te Puke Fruitgrowers' Association.

He went on to establish companies to manage and provide labour to kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty and in 1987 was elected deputy chair of Bay of Plenty Fruitpackers Co-operative Limited.

His many national leadership and governance roles in the sector have included Ministerial appointments as director of Kiwifruit New Zealand and the New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority, and as an elected director of grower-owned co-operative Market Gardens Limited, one of the country's largest produce market wholesalers, importer and exporter.

He was a director of the Satara kiwifruit grower co-operative for 25 years and chairman for 17 years and also served on the New Zealand Co-operatives Council representing horticulture and arable farming.

In 2005, he was elected as inaugural chair and president of Horticulture New Zealand, serving as president until 2013 and as a director until 2015.

Andrew's current roles include elected president and chair of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation and chair of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust, which he has served on since 2003.