The kiwifruit is an icon in the Bay of Plenty for tourists from all over the world arriving in Tauranga via cruise boats and was seen by an estimated 90 million viewers when the television show The Amazing Race was filmed at Kiwi 360.

Having overlooked Te Puke for 23 years, it was well overdue for a repaint. However rather than a straight repaint, the giant kiwifruit has been modernised to incorporate changes in kiwifruit over the years. One side now features the green variety and the other side the golden variety to represent its rising popularity. Of 100 million trays of kiwifruit exported each year, around 25% are gold kiwifruit.

The repaint of the giant kiwifruit both inside and out is the first part of a five year paint and paint maintenance programme. The outside is finished in Environmental Choice approved Resene Lumbersider topcoated in Resene Uracryl anti-graffiti finish to protect against tagging.

The colours are vibrant and reflect the Zespri branding. Altex products were used on the interior steel structure that supports the massive structure and the metal internal stairway that provides access to the top of the interior.

And with an eye on the calendar, the kiwifruit was finished just in time for the annual Kiwi Festival.

Owner: Pukenga Holdings
Painting Contractor: Programmed Property Services
Signwriter: The Sign Shack
Resene: Mark Aschoff, Bay of Plenty Branch Manager
From the Resene News – issue 2/2010