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Maori kiwifruit growers are making an estimated $271 million a year, and that is set to more than double by 2030.
That’s according to a new report from the University of Waikato on the impact of the government-supported programme to breed new kiwifruit varies such as the Zespri SunGold cultivar.
Zespri says it’s on track to double global sales by 2025 to $4.5 billion.
The kiwifruit industry generates more than 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs, almost all in the Bay of Plenty, including 2500 Maori.
The report estimates by 2030 there will be an additional 14,000 jobs in Bay of Plenty and 500 in Northland because of industry growth.
The kiwifruit industry contribution to gross domestic product is expected to increase 135 percent to $6.14 billion in 2030, driven by SunGold.
Without Zespri SunGold, the New Zealand industry would be less than half the size of the 2030 projections.
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