ACT MP Gerry Eckhoff today called for a Ministerial Inquiry into ENZA's alleged 'legacy costs'.

"It is unacceptable for ENZA's corporate owners (GPG) to attempt to impose so-called 'legacy costs' on the fruit growers of New Zealand.

"Investors bought into the industry after having gone through the process of due diligence. They must have known the potential for growth and the liabilities that ENZA offered.

"There is no legal, ethical or moral obligation for the entire industry to bail out GPG and Fay Richwhite.

It has been reported that ENZA is now promising $6 extra per carton instead of a $4.50 reduction if the entire industry agrees to bail out ENZA and, by association, GPG.

"If this is true, fruit growers must be wondering where the extra money has come from, as ENZA has said that it will cost $4.50 per carton this year to clear the debt - or 83 cents per carton over five years paid for by all growers.

"The 'legacy costs' belong squarely with the shareholders of ENZA, GPG and Fay Richwhite.

"Growers who don't now supply ENZA with fruit and are no longer shareholders should have nothing to do with accepting this debt.

"I believe a Ministerial Inquiry is now necessary. The industry is tearing itself apart with recriminations as to who is responsible for what debt. GPG is now reported to be suing a grower and exporter for a very substantial sum.

"Growers believed the 'legacy' debt was around the $10 million mark. They needed to be informed why this has reportedly now blown out to $56 million. A Ministerial Inquiry would answer this question.

"Jim Sutton must display real leadership until this industry sorts itself out," Gerry Eckhoff said.

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>