New Zealand apple growers are facing dry conditions in their principal growing area, Hawkes Bay, as well as labour shortage issues.
“It has been very dry,” said Peter Beaven, ceo of Pipfruit New Zealand. “We have had no rain for weeks here in Hawkes Bay, but we have significant reserves of water under our growing areas, so we will get through, but with the added cost of irrigation.”
And with employment levels in the country running high - only three per cent of the population is unemployed - this is putting added pressure on labour supply. But figures of 12,000 people banded about in the NZ press are misleading. “If no-one turned up at all, we would have a 12,000 person labour shortage,” said Pipfruit NZ’s Gary Jones, manager of membership services. “We expect labour to be tight, but we have a lot of visitors here under the working holiday scheme (WHS).”
The industry has also been working closely with government to solve the perennial labour problem. “Visitors travelling on the WHS are now able to extend their working visa by three months, if they work in the horticulture or viticulture sectors for three months,” said Jones.
Another key development is the new recognised seasonal employer scheme (RSE). “Employers apply to be recognised, which means they have met or exceeded the highest standards of seasonal employment practice,” said Jones. “They provide excellent accommodation, pastoral care of the workers, ensure their social and religious needs are met and pay for half their return travel. Once an employer becomes an RSE, it can then employ from the 12 Pacific Island states of the Pacific Island Forum nations.” The Pacific Island states are partnered in this also, and they provide screening of workers.
“These employees can work for up to seven months a year and can come back year after year,” said Jones. “Up to 5,000 workers will work in NZ under this policy over the next year; that is around 20-25 per cent of the seasonal labour requirement.”
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