A coherent set of field survey data of vine and fruit development events at research orchards and other sites in New Zealand were analysed with climate data to investigate the influence of climatic factors in kiwifruit(Actinidia deliciosa)development. The timing of the end of dormancy was determined by the amount of winter chilling. When sufficient chilling occurred the time from dormancy end to budburst was positively related to temperature over this period. When insufficient chilling occurred budburst dates were determined by the amount of exposure to low temperature. The duration from budburst to flowering required 415°C days above abase temperature of 7°C to be completed. The climatic requirements for early fruit development are yet to be established. However, high rainfall after January delayed the attainment of 5.0% soluble solids (SS). From 5.0% SS onwards the rate of maturation increased as mean temperatures decreased. The relationships derived can be used to estimate the dates of development events.