Australians munch Kiwi apples – yeah, right!

Australian quarantine inspectors in Hawke’s Bay are achieving what “Aussie rules” couldn’t – a ban on New Zealand apples.

The ban was lifted after Australia’s import restrictions were found to be a breach of World Trade Organisation rules.

But New Zealand growers are finding it just as hard to play by the new rules.

An Australian Senate Estimates hearing has confirmed what local growers have been saying – that quarantine officials posted in New Zealand are rejecting a substantial proportion of the apple consignments.

The biosecurity branch of the Australian Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry said that 13 consignments of New Zealand apples had been inspected and three rejected. Reasons for rejection include leaf matter and apple leaf curling midges.

These were identified in New Zealand before the fruit left for Australia. Louise Van Meurs, general manager of Plant Quarantine Operations, said that rate of rejection was not uncommon.

"We often have rejections to that level with other countries. For example, in the US, we've had rejections over that in regards to strawberries and we've obviously had to work with the USA in terms of changing some of those conditions and reviewing those conditions for example for leaf spot, which is a particular disease in the USA for strawberries," she told the ABC.

Officials in Australia say the department is working with New Zealand and will re-audit areas where apple exports are proposed from next year. There have been 17,600kg, or 87,438 apples, inspected; with 5030kg or 21,840 apples, rejected.

The department has confirmed the rejected consignments could be re-packed and could then could re-apply for export to Australia, but would have to be inspected again.

Meanwhile, Turners and Growers reports the first sea-freight container of New Zealand apples ever exported to Australia has arrived.

Enza general manager, Snow Hardy says the 20ft container packed with around 700 trays of the Jazz variety is the largest volume shipment of New Zealand apples to be sold in Australia since the 102-year ban was lifted.

The apples will be sold through independent fruit and produce retailers as the two main Australian supermarket chains  -- one of them Woolworths, which owns a New Zealand operation -- are boycotting the New Zealand apples.