Residents of Te Puke, known as New Zealand’s kiwifruit capital, have been gathering to pray for the kiwifruit season. The idea was inspired by people in a Waikato town who prayed for their dairy industry. The Orchard Church in Te Puke hosted a gathering of about 40 people on March 14 to pray for this year’s kiwifruit harvest.
James Muir, the organizer of the 2024 Te Puke kiwifruit prayer, explained that 41% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards are in Te Puke, making the industry crucial to the livelihoods of local residents. He also noted that the Bay of Plenty region, which contains 79% of the orchards, has been hit hard in the past by disease, extreme weather, poor pollination, and international economic crises.
The prayer points for 2024 were agreed upon by local growers in Te Puke and a representative from the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Association Incorporated (NZKGI). The NZKGI then informed all 2800 kiwifruit growers in New Zealand that Christian churches were praying for the industry and encouraged them to join in.
The prayer meetings also received support from local government officials, with Deputy Mayor John Scrimgeour and the late councillor Richard Crawford attending the March gathering. James Muir said that many others have joined in the prayers, which will continue until the end of the harvest in June or July.
The prayers focus on the safety and welfare of the growers and their families, as well as the over 20,000 workers in the industry. They also pray for the quality of the fruit harvest, smooth cooperation between industry players, and wisdom for Zespri and the government in monitoring economic and currency issues. They also pray for good weather conditions and a possible increase in the forecasted yield of 190 million trays in 2024.
Muir plans to host the prayer event again in Te Puke in February next year. He also mentioned the possibility of a celebration event at the end of the current harvest season in June or July.
