Bay of Plenty Crop Insurance

Crop Insurance in the Bay of Plenty

The Bay of Plenty is the engine room of New Zealand's kiwifruit industry, producing the majority of NZ's $3+ billion annual kiwifruit export crop. Te Puke, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, and the broader Eastern Bay region are home to thousands of kiwifruit orchards growing both Zespri SunGold (G3) and Green varieties.

Key Risks for Bay of Plenty Growers

Tropical cyclones and storms: Cyclone Gabrielle (2023) and previous events have demonstrated the significant wind and flooding risk to Bay of Plenty orchards. Proper storm cover is essential.

Hail: Bay of Plenty experiences convective hailstorms that can cause significant crop damage, particularly during flowering and canopy development. Hail netting reduces risk but cannot eliminate it.

PSA: While the industry has developed more robust management practices, PSA remains a latent risk for kiwifruit orchards. Business interruption cover following PSA can be arranged.

Post-harvest quality: The Bay of Plenty's warm, humid climate creates post-harvest quality risks. Storage and coolstore cover is an important component.

Insurance Recommendations for BOP Orchardists

We recommend Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers review their insurance annually against:

1. Replacement value of hail nets and infrastructure

2. Revenue exposure from a full crop loss year

3. Business interruption provisions

4. Cyclone/wind deductibles

Use our quote form to connect with a broker who specialises in Bay of Plenty horticulture.