Reprint as at 20 December 2019
(LI 2019/86)
Patsy Reddy, Governor-General
At Wellington this 6th day of May 2019
Present:Her Excellency the Governor-General in Council
Changes authorised by subpart 2 of Part 2 of the Legislation Act 2012 have been made in this official reprint.
Note 4 at the end of this reprint provides a list of the amendments incorporated.
This order is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
This order is made under section 4 of the Commodity Levies Act 1990—
on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council; and
on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture given in accordance with sections 5 and 6 of that Act.
This order is the Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2019.
This order comes into force on 10 June 2019.
Order: confirmed, on 20 December 2019, by section 12(j) of the Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Act 2019 (2019 No 82).
In this order, unless the context otherwise requires,—
Act means the Commodity Levies Act 1990
avocados means fruit of any tree of the species Persea americana
collection agent means a person whose business is, or includes,—
buying avocados from a grower for resale in New Zealand, or for export; or
selling avocados in New Zealand on behalf of a grower, or exporting avocados on behalf of a grower
export means the sale of avocados—
by a grower to a market other than in New Zealand; or
by a grower to a collection agent for sale to a market other than in New Zealand; or
by a collection agent to a market other than in New Zealand
export avocados means avocados that are—
grown in New Zealand by a grower; and
exported; and
not processed before export
grower means a person whose business is, or includes, the growing, and selling or export, of avocados
GST means goods and services tax payable under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985
levy means the levies imposed by clause 5
levy money means the money paid or payable under this order as a levy
levy rate means the rate fixed under clause 14
levy year means,—
for the first levy year, the period starting on 10 June 2019 and ending on 30 April 2020:
for the last levy year, the period starting on 1 May 2024 and ending on 9 June 2025:
for every other year, a period of 12 months starting on 1 May and ending on 30 April in the following year
mediator means—
a person appointed under clause 24; and
for a particular dispute, the mediator appointed to resolve the dispute
New Zealand market avocados means avocados that are—
sold in New Zealand for consumption as fresh fruit
NZAGA means N.Z. Avocado Growers Association Incorporated
processed—
means any process that is applied to avocados; and
includes avocados that are puréed, pulped, dried, freeze-dried, dehydrated, evaporated, preserved, frozen, juiced, canned, or bottled, or from which oil has been extracted, whether or not other ingredients are added to the avocados
selling price means the price at which avocados are sold at the first point of sale—
excluding GST; and
before the deduction of any costs or charges
tray equivalent means 5.5 kg in weight of avocados.
A reference in this order to the payment or recovery of a levy must be read as including the payment of any GST payable on the levy.
(1)
A levy is imposed on—
all New Zealand market avocados; and
all export avocados.
(2)
The levy is payable to NZAGA.
The persons primarily responsible for paying the levy are growers who grow—
New Zealand market avocados; or
export avocados.
No grower of New Zealand market avocados or export avocados is exempt from paying the levy.
A collection agent must pay the levy to NZAGA if the collection agent—
buys avocados from growers (except through another collection agent) for resale in New Zealand, or for export, as the case may be; or
sells avocados in New Zealand on behalf of growers, or exports them on behalf of growers, as the case may be.
The collection agent may recover the levy from the grower—
by deducting the amount of the levy from the payment made to the grower; or
by recovering the amount of the levy as a debt due from the grower.
(3)
A collection agent who pays the levy on New Zealand market avocados to NZAGA may deduct from the levy a collection fee of not more than 5% of the amount of the levy payable to NZAGA (excluding GST) plus the GST payable on the fee.
(4)
In the case of export avocados, the collection agent who pays the levy to NZAGA must not deduct a collection fee from the levy.
Any grower or collection agent who objects on conscientious or religious grounds to the manner of recovery by NZAGA of an amount of levy money may pay the amount concerned to the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Director-General must pay the amount to NZAGA.
The due date for payment of the levy for New Zealand market avocados is the earlier of—
the date when the grower sells the avocados to a collection agent; and
the date when a collection agent sells the avocados on behalf of the grower.
The due date for payment of the levy for New Zealand market avocados that are sold by a grower without using a collection agent is 30 April next following the date of sale.
The due date for payment of the levy for export avocados is the date on which the avocados are first sold.
For the purposes of subclauses (1) to (3), the latest date for payment of the levy is the 20th day of the month after the month in which the due date for payment occurs.
(5)
In the case of export avocados, NZAGA may, in its absolute discretion, grant an extension of time for paying the levy if offshore terms of trade for the sale of the avocados have not been finalised before the last day for payment of the levy.
If a grower does not pay an amount of levy money by the required date, the grower must pay NZAGA,—
for the first month, an additional levy of 10% of the unpaid amount; and
for each subsequent month that the amount (or part of the amount) remains unpaid after the required date, an additional levy of 2% of the amount of the unpaid levy (including additional levies owing under this clause).
The levy payable in a levy year must be calculated on the basis of,—
in the case of New Zealand market avocados, the selling price; and
in the case of export avocados, the number of kilograms of avocados grown and exported, calculated by reference to the number of tray equivalents.
For the purposes of subclause (1)(a), if NZAGA considers that the declared selling price is not consistent with the prevailing market conditions in the grower’s locality or if there is no declared selling price, NZAGA may determine that the selling price is the market value on the date of sale or transaction that, in the opinion of NZAGA, a purchaser would have been reasonably expected to pay for the avocados.
The levies must be paid at a single rate.
The maximum rate of levy is,—
in the case of New Zealand market avocados, 3% of the selling price (plus GST, if any); and
in the case of export avocados, 50 cents (plus GST, if any) per tray equivalent.
NZAGA must fix the levy rate for the first levy year by any means by which it can lawfully make decisions.
NZAGA must fix the levy rate for each subsequent levy year—
at an annual general meeting; or
at a special general meeting called for that purpose.
If NZAGA does not fix the levy rates before the start of a levy year, the levy rate for that year is the rate most recently fixed under this clause.
As soon as practicable after setting the levy rates for a levy year, NZAGA must notify the levy rates—
directly to all growers and collection agents known to NZAGA; and
in Avoscene; and
in The Orchardist.
If Avoscene or The Orchardist ceases to be published, the levy rates must be notified in—
any publication that replaces it; or
if no publication replaces it, a publication for the time being specified for the purposes of this order by the Minister of Agriculture by notice in the Gazette.
NZAGA—
must spend all levy money; and
pending its expenditure, may—
pay levy money to its branches or subsidiaries, which must spend the levy money; or
invest the levy money until it is spent.
NZAGA or its branches or subsidiaries may spend levy money for any or all of the following purposes:
research, development, and agricultural extension:
market development and access:
promotion of avocados and the avocado industry:
quality assurance:
industry communications:
day-to-day administration of NZAGA:
readiness and response to biosecurity threats.
NZAGA must not spend levy money on commercial or trading activities.
NZAGA must consult growers on how it proposes to spend levy money at its annual general meeting or at a special general meeting called for that purpose.
Every collection agent must supply, in writing, to NZAGA, as soon as is reasonably practicable, returns that contain any information that NZAGA requests in writing for the purposes of calculating the levy.
In the case of New Zealand market avocados, every grower and collection agent must, in each levy year, keep records of—
the number of tray equivalents of avocados sold; and
the name of the grower or collection agent; and
the price received or paid for, or the value placed on, the avocados; and
the amount of the levy collected by, or paid to, NZAGA, as the case may be; and
the amount of the collection fee (if any) deducted by the collection agent.
In the case of export avocados, every grower and collection agent must, in each levy year, keep records of—
the name and any official mark that identify the grower for export purposes (for example, the Property Identification Number); and
the number of tray equivalents of avocados exported; and
the amount of the levy collected by, or paid to, NZAGA, or the Director-General of the Ministry for Primary Industries for growers or collection agents who are conscientious objectors.
NZAGA must, in each levy year, keep records of—
each amount of levy paid to it in the levy year, the date on which each levy is received, and the person who pays the levy in each case; and
the manner in which the levy money is spent or invested.
The records required by clause 20 must be kept for at least 7 years after the date of payment of the levy to which the records relate.
The records required by clause 21 must be kept for at least 7 years after the end of the levy year to which the records relate.
This clause applies to information obtained—
under or because of this order; or
under the Act in relation to this order.
A person must not disclose information to anyone other than an officer or employee of NZAGA unless the disclosure is—
the giving of evidence in any legal proceedings taken in relation to this order; or
required by law; or
the production of records or accounts under section 17(1) of the Act; or
the production of any statement under section 25 of the Act.
NZAGA may disclose information—
for statistical or research purposes that do not involve the disclosure of personal information; or
for the purpose of invoicing or collecting the levy; or
for the purpose of determining the voting entitlements, and the counting of votes, of members of NZAGA; or
if every identifiable person to whom the information relates consents; or
as required by law.
This clause applies to a dispute about—
whether a person is required to pay the levy; or
the amount of levy payable.
A party to the dispute may ask the President of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand Incorporated to appoint a person to resolve the dispute by mediation.
If asked, the President, or a person authorised by the President, may appoint a person to resolve the dispute by mediation.
The mediator’s appointment ends if—
the parties to the dispute resolve the dispute by agreement; or
the mediator resolves the dispute under clause 31.
A mediator must be paid remuneration (by way of fees and allowances) as agreed by the parties to the dispute.
If the parties to a dispute cannot agree on a mediator’s remuneration, the President of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand Incorporated, or a person authorised by the President, must—
fix an amount or several amounts to be paid to the mediator as remuneration; and
specify the amount (if any) that each party must pay.
Each party must pay to the mediator the amount or amounts fixed and specified under subclause (2).
A mediator must—
organise the date, time, and place for each conference to be held by the mediator; and
notify the parties by post or email; and
preside at the conference.
Unless clause 28 applies, only the parties to a dispute may attend a conference with the mediator.
A mediator may allow a representative of a party to a dispute to attend a conference if the mediator is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so in all the circumstances.
Each person who attends a conference may be heard at the conference.
A mediator may hear and take into account any relevant evidence or information, whether or not it would be admissible in a court of law.
A mediator may, on their own initiative,—
seek and receive any evidence that they think desirable to resolve the dispute; and
make any investigations and inquiries that they think desirable to resolve the dispute.
A mediator may require a person giving evidence at a conference to verify the evidence by statutory declaration.
A mediator may resolve a dispute for the parties if—
the mediator has organised and presided at a conference of the parties, but the dispute has not been resolved; or
the mediator believes that the parties are unlikely to resolve the dispute, whether or not they confer directly.
A mediator who resolves a dispute under subclause (1) must give each party written notice of the mediator’s decision and the reasons for the decision.
The parties must comply with the mediator’s decision.
Each party must pay their own costs in relation to the mediation.
A party to a dispute who is dissatisfied with the mediator’s decision may appeal to the District Court against the decision.
The appeal must be brought by filing a notice of appeal within 28 days after the decision is made or within any longer time that a District Court Judge allows.
The Registrar of the court must—
fix the date, time, and place for the hearing of the appeal; and
notify the appellant and the other parties to the dispute; and
serve a copy of the notice of appeal on every other party to the dispute.
Each party to the dispute may appear and be heard at the hearing of the appeal.
The District Court may confirm, vary, or reverse the mediator’s decision.
(6)
The filing of a notice of appeal does not operate as a stay of process for the enforcement of the mediator’s decision.
NZAGA must remunerate a person appointed as an auditor under section 15 of the Act at a rate agreed by the auditor and NZAGA.
The Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2013 (SR 2013/258) is revoked.
Michael Webster,Clerk of the Executive Council.
This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.
This order, which comes into force on 10 June 2019, imposes a levy on avocados grown by growers in New Zealand that are—
sold for consumption in New Zealand as fresh fruit; or
exported from New Zealand.
The levy is payable by growers or collection agents to the N.Z. Avocado Growers Association Incorporated.
Before this order, a levy was imposed on avocados by the Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2013. This order revokes and replaces that order. The revocation does not affect amounts of levy money that became payable under that order before its revocation.
This order is a confirmable instrument under section 47B of the Legislation Act 2012. It is revoked at the close of 30 June 2020, unless confirmed earlier by an Act of Parliament. That stated time is the applicable deadline under section 47C(1)(a) of that Act. If this order is confirmed, it will be revoked on 9 June 2025 (the day before the sixth anniversary of the date on which it came into force), unless it is extended under section 13(2) of the Commodity Levies Act 1990.
Issued under the authority of the Legislation Act 2012.
Date of notification in Gazette: 9 May 2019.
This is a reprint of the Commodity Levies (Avocados) Order 2019 that incorporates all the amendments to that order as at the date of the last amendment to it.
Reprints are presumed to correctly state, as at the date of the reprint, the law enacted by the principal enactment and by any amendments to that enactment. Section 18 of the Legislation Act 2012 provides that this reprint, published in electronic form, has the status of an official version under section 17 of that Act. A printed version of the reprint produced directly from this official electronic version also has official status.
Editorial and format changes to reprints are made using the powers under sections 24 to 26 of the Legislation Act 2012. See also http://www.pco.parliament.govt.nz/editorial-conventions/.
Subordinate Legislation Confirmation Act 2019 (2019 No 82): section 12(j)