EPA remains committed to deliver improved outcomes
OPINION: At the end of my first year as chair of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), I have been reflecting on the progress made in the time I have been in the role.
Horticulture NZ chair Barry O'Neil told Rural News that there are a lot of angry growers in Hawke's Bay who feel abandoned by the Government.
"HortNZ is very disappointed. While the Government initially provided some funding to clean up devastation caused by the cyclone, it hasn't followed up with a promised full recovery package."
Growers whose orchards were either wiped out or badly damaged are being left in limbo not knowing what Government assistance may be available to help them get back on their feet, or whether they will simply have to walk off their land.
O'Neil says when the Minister of Finance and Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson met with growers in early April, there was an expectation that there would be an announcement about a recovery package soon after. However, O'Neil says a month on and he's been given no indication of an impending announcement.
"We have been collaborating with ministers and officials involved. I do understand that this is a complex situation here with an infrastructure rebuild cost, as well as the growers," he told Rural News.
"We also understand that the budget discussions may have delayed this to a certain extent. But the longer it takes them to land this package, frustration will continue to grow."
O'Neil says HortNZ is aware of how hard things are for growers and is doing all it can to try and get the Government to act quickly.
He says Cyclone Gabrielle has come on top of three difficult years caused by Covid, which has seen a lack of labour to maintain and pick fruit leading to quality problems. He adds that shipping delays and other global disruptions have made the situation worse.
O'Neil says it appears that the Government is waiting for the banks and insurance companies to step up as well. He acknowledges that the issue is extraordinarily complex and that lawyers are involved to try and sort out some of the complexities such as - if the land is leased - who pays for the cleanup.
He points to the 2004 Manawatū floods, where the Government moved quickly and supported growers and farmers. O'Neil concedes that the present crisis is more widespread with large areas of the North Island affected.
"Frustration is very high. We want the Government to show the leadership it needs to and was elected to do."
