New Zealand: Choppers fight frost over kiwifruit

Frost-busting helicopters were out in force again this morning to protect early-budding kiwifruit after two heavy frosts - yesterday's the stiffest frost of the year.

Yesterday morning the ground temperature dropped to a cracking minus-six degrees. Growers warned by a frost alert and monitoring called out helicopters to prevent the frost settling and damaging their vines.

Both Ashworth Helicopters and Gisborne Helicopters put machines in the air, starting around 4am in the hours before dawn.

Six helicopters were in action in the Ormond and Waerenga-a-Hika areas, and another five were out again early this morning.

At around $1200 an hour, the use of helicopters to bring warmer air down on to the vines is an expensive but necessary option to avoid damage at the critical budding period.