Groser should stick to trade, not kiwifruit - Gibbs

Turners & Growers chairman Tony Gibbs suggests Trade Minister Tim Groser should stick to his knitting.

Mr Gibbs today lobbed a virtual hand grenade at Mr Groser and also kiwifruit exporter Zespri saying the company was putting up a smokescreen to avoid questions on its monopoly status.

This came after Zespri claimed Mr Gibbs pushed for the United States delegation at the World Trade Organisation to question the New Zealand government over the exporter’s monopoly status.

Mr Gibbs denied he was involved in the WTO questioning.

In a statement this afternoon, Mr Gibbs also questioned the earlier comments from Mr Groser that “this is a commercial dispute dressed up in policy terms.”

“I can’t understand why a Minister who purports to be a champion of free trade would say that, unless it’s an attempt to avoid the real issues,” he said.

“Obviously it is quite proper for Mr Groser to speak to international trade issues, that is his job. But he should not purport to be speaking for the New Zealand government on matters of agricultural policy.”

Mr Gibbs said his understand was that Agriculture Minister David Carter was responsible.

Mr Carter’s office repeated earlier comments that there was no appetite for legislative change among kiwifruit growers. If there was, it would act.

Turners & Growers statement of claim alleged Zespri was acting unlawfully in its position as a near monopoly exporter.