The Government has strengthened plant variety rights (PVR) to protect investments underpinning high‑value exports, regional jobs and global demand for New Zealand produce.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer said that high‑value horticulture relies on years, often decades, of breeding, testing and commercialisation. Strengthening the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will give New Zealand the intellectual property settings it needs to compete internationally, protect its investment and grow export returns.
At the same time, Trade and Investment and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said that, from drought-resistant grass seed that benefits pastoral farmers to higher-yielding, better-tasting produce for New Zealanders and export markets, these changes will provide vital support for growers.
In 2024, 75 percent of the NZD 3.5 billion in export returns from kiwifruit and an estimated 55 percent of the NZD 979 million in export returns from apples came from plant variety rights‑protected varieties.
This showed the vital contribution that new plant varieties make to growing export earnings and to taking the country closer to its ambitious goal of doubling export value in ten years.
Brewer highlighted Zespri’s projections, which showed that extending the PVR term by five years for SunGold Kiwifruit alone would mean additional revenue of around NZD 1.8 billion over five years from the time of the extension, to the kiwifruit industry and the Bioeconomy Science Institute.
“Growers will also benefit from additional returns as PVR varieties maintain their market value for longer, allowing growers to continue to build high-value demand ahead of supply. Directly and indirectly, we all benefit when our domestic growers are thriving.”
Breeding and importing new varieties can be a long, expensive and uncertain process. Breeders and importers take a significant risk; it is necessary to ensure they are supported in this process.
The Government has also been restoring provisional protection, so breeders are covered from day one of their rights application, rather than when it is granted.
This means plant breeders can take immediate legal action if new varieties are stolen and commercially exploited during the application process, which can take up to five years and sometimes much longer.
By providing greater certainty and support, McClay added, the government is empowering plant breeders to keep innovating - driving economic growth and ensuring New Zealand remains competitive on the world stage.
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