2023 AGM Summary

The AGM was help on Tuesday the 27th June via Zoom.  A total of 17 members attended the meeting and a number of key items were discussed.

2023/24 committee:  The current committee, with the exception of Ross Smith put their hands up to server for another year.  No new members were nominated for the committee.  The members approved the new committee members as follows:

Peter Barrowclough – Chair
Paul Röllin

Alison Bentley
Deb Whiteside
Shane McKenzie
Michael Petherick
Murray Redpath
Grace McGowan

Michael presented the Treasurer’s report, which showed a total income of $4,353.23 for the year ending 31 March 2023.  The Association’s closing balance on the 31 March was $46,398.08.

Full accounts are available here.

Paul presented a summary of the business plan developed by the committee during their face-to-face meeting in November.  The plan is designed to help the Association better achieve its aims of:

  1. Grow the domestic industry: Growers, processors, consumers.
  2. Facilitate, collate, and participate in research to increase profitable supply from existing and new plantings. Key research areas: Growing techniques/methods; Nutrition; Environment; Improvement of plant genetics
  3. Facilitate and promote transfer of knowledge to support members via seminars, field trips and online communication (website, newsletter etc);
  4. Engage in an active liaison with other relevant organisations.

To support these aims the key points of the 2023/2024 strategic plan are:

  1. Improve profitability of growers
  2. Increase local production
  3. Education of growers and support for research to improve the industry
  4. Increase public awareness and perception of NZ grown hazelnuts
  5. Ensure the industry is sustainable and diversified

The committee has proposed employing a part time executive officer to help the committee push forward with this plan.   The aim is for this officer to assist in areas such as event organisation, funding applications and general support for the committee and Association.  The committee is looking to apply for funding to help with studies around pruning and other agronomic areas such as understanding flower induction, irrigation, fertiliser usage and pest management to improve yields.

To help with the funding of this role the committee has suggested increasing the membership fees to $90 for the 2023/24 year on-wards.

This was unanimously accepted by the members at the AGM.

The Association business plan is available here and the Association strategy document is here.

Full meeting minutes are available here