LUXTON ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO THE NEW ZEALAND APPLE AND PEAR MARKETING BOARD

Associate Minister of Agriculture Hon John Luxton today announced the appointment of Mr David Irving, Mr Jozef Dames and Mr Jack Jenkins to the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board for 3 year terms expiring on 30 November 2000.

"Mr Irving replaces Mr John Paynter, who did not seek reappointment, and Messrs Dames and Jenkins will replace Mr Con van der Voort and Mr John Altham, whose terms on the Board expired on 30 November 1997. Mr van der Voort did not seek renomination and John Altham did but was unsuccessful. On behalf of growers, I want to thank Messrs Irving, van der Voort and Altham for their efforts and wish them well for the future" Mr Luxton said.

"The Board comprises seven directors appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Four directors are appointed on the nomination of the Fruitgrower's Federation. The remaining three directors are nominated by the Board for their commercial expertise, after consultation with the Fruitgrower's Federation.

David Irving is appointed as a commercial director of the Board and Jack Jenkins and Jozef Dames are appointed as grower directors.

David Irving was until March 1997 a director of Heinz Wattie Limited and he continues to be a director of the Heinz Wattie Board. With 23 years at Watties, he has considerable expertise in leading Watties through restructuring and has wide experience in the primary sector and the international food business and fruit marketing. He is currently Chairman of Project 98, Airwork, Prometheus Consultants and Medallion Foods and a director of Television New Zealand, Restaurant Brands and the Americas Cup Village.

Jack Jenkins was until 1995, the Chief Executive of Carter Holt Harvey's Plastic Products Group. He is currently Chairman of Health Waikato and Capital Coast Health, as well as Chairman of Forlong and Maisey and Chairman of Associated Cable Support Asia and Associated Cable Support Australia.

Jozef Dames has been a director of his family orchard since 1982. He has a Masters of Business Administration from Massey University and BSC and BSurv from Otago University. A founding director of Applebay NZ, a fruit company formed after the deregulation of the domestic market for apples and pears, he has done research analysis for J Wattie Foods of the Australian pear growing industry's competitive advantage and developed and sold functional prototypes of Spraylog software now incorporated with Orchard 2000 systems.

"The apple industry faces many challenges. The Board has a challenge to keep up with the changing world and to increase the incomes of apple growers. Today nothing is more certain than change. I wish the directors well in their new appointments" Mr Luxton concluded.

Contact:
Conor English, Press Secretary
04 471 9707,