Desperate hort sector demands govt action
Horticultural exporters, growers, food companies and industry leaders are pleading for the Government to make a plan to allow Pacific Island seasonal workers to return later this year.
As a result of Covid, many New Zealanders need to develop new skills and take on positions in essential industries such as horticulture – industries that are pivotal to the country’s economic and social recovery.
This is no easy task. The new government will need to complete the reform of the education and training system so that it reflects post-Covid requirements for flexible delivery and the fostering of innovation.
While New Zealand’s border challenges may currently appear stark, the horticulture industry believes they can be managed in such a way to protect the health of New Zealanders while also ensuring the country can prosper economically, through access to skills and labour that can only be obtained from overseas.
At the same time that the government needs to partner with industries such as horticulture to help get New Zealanders displaced by Covid into work and new careers, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme must be expanded and put on a firmer footing to give growers and investors more certainty. The scheme needs to be expanded to support horticulture’s continued growth, which in turn provides more employment opportunities for New Zealanders.
The next challenge facing horticulture is freshwater. While HortNZ welcomed the current Government’s pragmatic approach to achieving freshwater quality outcomes, the whole of the country urgently needs significant investment in commercially viable water storage schemes – for urban supply, growing fruit and vegetables and improving freshwater quality by enhancing river and stream flows.
The current Government has announced it wants to provide financial support to farmers and growers, as they develop and implement their Farm Environment Plans.
Any new government must also recognise that Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) audits are more than sufficient to validate Farm Environment Plans and identify areas for further work.
There is no need for expensive consultant sign off.
At the same time, support for sediment control and wetland development is needed to match and support growers’ own investment.
Horticulture is well-placed to play a critical role in New Zealand’s post-Covid economic and social recovery.
What is needed are central and local government settings, decisions and partnerships that support that role.
• Mike Chapman is chief executive of HortNZ
