The New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers is celebrating 25 years as an incorporated group.

The NZKGI's central role as an advocate for growers of New Zealand's kiwifruit industry was recognised at a celebratory evening recently.

The Minister of Agriculture Hon Damien O'Connor was in attendance, as well as a wide range of industry leaders, including present and past NZKGI forum members.

NZKGI founding chairman Hendrik Pieters and current chairman Doug Brown spoke at the event, highlighting the successes of the industry over the last 25 years, including the PSA outbreak and the grower solidarity around the single desk and the kiwifruit industry strategy project.

Doug says it's an honour to chair NZKGI not only through its 25th anniversary, but also at a time when the kiwifruit industry is ‘booming'.

'During this time of growth, NZKGI's role has never been so important in areas such as labour, water and the right to grow as we paved a path for the industry to meet forecast volumes.

'Being a primary industry, you also don't know what's coming around the corner, so NZKGI will be needed for many more years to come to advocate for New Zealand's kiwifruit growers”.

The event also marked the launch of the NZKGI's book, Seeds for Success: The Stories of New Zealand's Kiwifruit Pioneers, written by NZKGI contracted award-winning journalist Elaine Fisher – who used to work for Sun Media.

Elaine spent almost a year creating the book, which is a collection of the stories of the innovation and personalities behind some of the industry's founding members.

The NZKGI thank the book's sponsors through which the book was able to come to fruition, particularly platinum sponsor Zespri and gold sponsors Fresh Carriers/Oceanic Navigation as well as the NZKGI Forum.