Bledisloe Cup for Kiwifruit Industry Leader Peter Ombler

Bledisloe Cup for kiwifruit industry leader

Thursday 13 July 2017 - An outstanding leader in the kiwifruit industry, Peter Ombler was given horticulture’s premier award, the Bledisloe Cup, at the Horticulture Conference 2017 on Thursday.

Very similar to the famous rugby Bledisloe Cup, horticulture’s version was one of several cups Lord Bledisloe presented to New Zealand in 1931.

Horticulture New Zealand President Julian Raine said, in presenting the Cup, that Peter Ombler is an exceptional grower who has been involved in the kiwifruit industry for 36 years and during that time has taken a lead role on critical issues, including Psa, for the benefit of all kiwifruit growers.

"After Psa was discovered in Te Puke in November 2010, Peter applied his orchard knowledge to the search for solutions," Mr Raine said. "He was a foundation member of Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH), the organisation set up to address the Psa outbreak and was its second Chairman. Peter subsequently moved KVH from a Psa focus to acting for the kiwifruit industry on all biosecurity risks."

As President of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, Peter was also instrumental in retaining the kiwifruit industry’s single desk status.

"Peter has shown effective leadership for growers and has steered the industry through two critical crises that could have destroyed the kiwifruit industry as it is today," Mr Raine said. "He is well respected with growers, industry leaders, and the Government."

In recognition of his services to the kiwifruit industry, Peter received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2013.

Other awards presented at the conference were:

President’s Trophy - Brent Wilcox, principal of A S Wilcox & Sons, for outstanding leadership and mentoring the next generation of leaders

Industry Service Award - Dr Bruce Campbell, Chief Operating Officer, Plant and Food Research, for ensuring research undertaken by and for the industry promotes growth and supports New Zealand’s premium position in international markets

Horticulture New Zealand Life Membership - Stephen Darling, who has dedicated his life to the pip fruit industry, and Gary Bennetts, for his contribution to the summer fruit industry.

ENDS

About Horticulture Conference 2017

The Horticulture Conference 2017, held at ASB Baypark, Tauranga, from 12 to 14 July, is the conference of Horticulture New Zealand, Vegetables New Zealand, Tomatoes NZ and the New Zealand Asparagus Council

The conference is being made possible with support from Platinum sponsor Countdown; Gold sponsors T&G Global, United Fresh and Plant & Food Research; and Bronze sponsors AsureQuality, Apunga, Dow AgroSciences, Etec Crop Solutions, Eurofins, Farmgard, Fruit Logistica, Fritons Limited, Hill Laboratories, MG Marketing, NZKGI, Pacon, Primary ITO, Rabobank, Radfords Software, Viscount FCC, and Zespri.

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