Kiwifruit growing is central to a plan to boost employment and investment in the Bay of Plenty.
Kiwifruit Photo: 123RF
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, who launched the action plan in Rotorua on Thursday morning, said the region was growing well as a result of the recovery from the kiwifruit PSA crisis and the tourism industry.
But Mr Joyce said it could be do better, particularly by expanding kiwifruit growing in the eastern Bay.
"There's a range of Maori land in the eastern Bay of Plenty which is a bit under-utilised at the moment," he said. "There's significant opportunities for not just kiwifruit but other horticultural production."
"The challenges are making sure the land owners have a clear understanding of the opportunities and have the skills to take up those opportunities and to make sure that we have water access to those properties as well, so that's the sort of thing this action plan is designed to tackle, and to tackle quickly."
Mr Joyce said it was hoped that new kiwifruit vines can be planted on Maori land within the next year or two.
