Golden kiwifruit growers have been granted the right to appeal a High Court decision that will increase their rates for growing the product in Tairāwhiti.
A High Court judgement was released allowing The Bushmere Trust - which is representing all golden kiwifruit growers in the region - to take its case to the Court of Appeal according to www.rnz.co.nz
In the judgement, Justice Palmer acknowledged the issue at hand was significant to the SunGold kiwifruit industry, and potentially more widely to the horticultural industry as well.
The rating saga began in December 2020 when Gisborne District Council deemed that licences to grow the golden variety should account for an increase in value to the land, justifying a rates rise.