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 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.