Cold tolerance of Hayward kiwifruit buds on stem cuttings increased from early June to mid- and late July. This cultivar withstood - 11°C in July with an LT50 of -12.7°C. Percentage bud break was more susceptible to reduction by low temperature in Actinidia callosa var. henryi than other species and cold tolerance was greatest in Actinidia melanandra, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia polygama, and Actinidia arguta hybrids. Actinidia material can be selected with good bud (LT50 -20°C) and bark cold tolerance. A browning test of frosted buds and the determination of stem diffusate electrical conductivity need modification to improve their correlation with tissue death. Hayward buds supercooled to -3°C as indicated by a high temperature exotherm at that temperature, but no low temperature exotherms were detected.Deep supercooling may not be a frost avoidance mechanism in buds of Actinidia.