A new world after the COVID-19 winter

We are in a new world and we will never return to what we had before. Businesses, councils and government will need to work together and change the way things are done to adapt to the new normal.

Click here to read Mike's Blog.
Click here to watch Mike's video update.

Country moves to Alert Level 3 next week

The Prime Minister has announced that New Zealand will move to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm on Monday 27 April.

For an essential service like horticulture, the move to Level 3 will see retention of the same anti-COVID-19 transmission measures that were put in place under Level 4.

Click here to view the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) guidance updated on 20 April.
Click here to view the MPI guidance about operating at Level 4, developed in consultation with the horticulture industry.

Moving to Alert Level 3 means that all horticulture activities – including construction – can resume, as long as the same strict health and safety practices as in Level 4 are observed at all times. This development will help our industry meet future domestic and export demand for fresh produce.
Activities include:
- the planting of new vegetable crops and fruit trees
- winter pruning
- the maintenance and building of plant support structures and facilities like packhouses
- ground and structure work including bulldozers changing contours and the
building of artificial shelter.

Lastly, the move to Alert Level 3 will enable independent fruit and vegetable retailers and roadside stalls to run contactless ‘click and collect’ services, where customers order and pay online or by phone and come and collect their produce, while keeping their distance.

However, independent retailers cannot reopen their doors. Nevertheless, we are still in discussions with the Government about the importance of independent retailers reopening, because of the high volumes (20% to 30%) of fresh fruit and vegetables that they sell.

Self-accreditation
We understand that horticulture businesses will not be required to undergo self-accreditation with the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Please keep an eye on the HortNZ COVID-19 webpage for ongoing updates.

Click here to view HortNZ's COVID-19 info

Face masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available

PGG Wrightson and Fruitfed Supplies have a supply of KN95 face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser available from their nationwide store network.

The majority of stores have stock now and the rest will have the face masks in-store by the end of the week. Please note stock is limited, so only order what is required for your operation. Contact your local PGG Wrightson or Fruitfed Supplies store or sales rep for more information.

The use of masks and gloves is discretionary and their use is not necessary in all workplace situations. If masks and/or gloves are used, please ensure staff are trained on how to use and dispose of them.

Click here to refer to the Ministry of Health advice on face masks in the workplace.

Click here to apply for PPE from the Ministry of Health.

Click here to view health and safety guidance for horticulture from the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Click here to find and contact your local store

Otago Region – Proposed Water Permits Plan Change 7

Otago Regional Council (ORC) has proposed a plan change to the Regional Plan: Water for Otago for the replacement of deemed permits with water permits, and for the replacement of any water permits expiring prior to 2025.

The plan change has immediate legal effect. This is because it deals with water and under the RMA, any applications for a water permit also have to give consideration to a plan change.

The ORC has taken this action because it believes it will have a new Land and Water Plan in place by 2025, and does not want to issue any water permits that would undermine the intent of that new plan.

Key concerns for horticulture are:

- Lack of technical assessment informing the proposed plan change
- Short six-year term for replacement water permits
- Replacement water permits would be issued based only on the average amount of water
used and recorded during the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2017
- No further irrigation of land beyond that which was irrigated in the 2017-18 irrigation
season for the entire Otago Region.

These factors combined mean that the proposed plan change has an immediate impact on horticulture in the Otago Region.

HortNZ is working with other industry groups and is preparing an industry submission in the best interests of growers. Click here for more information.

If you have questions, please contact Rachel McClung, Environmental Policy Advisor – South Island, rachel.mcclung@hortnz.co.nz or 027 582 7474.

Helping Vanuatu rebuild after Cyclone Harold

The givealittle page set up by Fruit of the Pacific to help fund a sawmill to support rebuild efforts in northern Vanuatu has raised more than $7500. Sawmill operator and RSE worker, Joe Lautu, and his team have received permission from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to travel north to help with the rebuild.

They will be milling fallen timber and providing that free of charge so communities can rebuild public buildings like medical clinics, schools and churches. This project is one of the very few projects approved by NDMO, which is focused on internal response and recovery due to the high risks posed by COVID-19 in the rest of the world. No containers are being accepted at this stage.

Fruit of the Pacific is hoping to raise between $15,000 and $20,000 to cover travel expenses and a weekly operational budget of $1500.

Click here to donate

RSE facebook page for COVID-19 information

A new Toso Vaka O Manu Information Page has been created on Facebook to provide RSE workers with COVID-19 information in their native languages.

There is a group page for almost every country that is part of the RSE scheme. To help keep RSE workers, employers, and communities safe, it is vital that the latest COVID-19 information is shared.

If you are an RSE employer or are connected to the RSE community, please share this page.

Click here to view the Toso Vaka O Manu Information Page

New dates for HortNZ AGM and Director Elections

The postponement of HortNZ events such as the Horticulture Conference 2020 has had a flow on effect in terms of the timing of HortNZ’s Annual General Meeting – now Friday 25 September 2020 – and Director Elections.

Click here for more info and timeline

Covid-catchup with Dylan Hall

HortNZ is catching up with young people in the industry to see what they have been up to during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This week we talk to Dylan Hall, a second-year Massey University agribusiness student, who comes from an orchard in Gisborne. He's also current treasurer of the Massey Horticulture Society.

Click here to read the covid-catchup with Dylan.

Upcoming spotted wing drosophila webinar

Spotted wing drosophila is an exotic pest that is not known to be present in Australia or New Zealand. A trans-Tasman project team working on spotted wing drosophila preparedness is hosting a webinar on Thursday 30 April at 6pm-7pm (New Zealand time), which will cover findings in relation to spotted wing drosophila monitoring, establishment and spread, and overseas learning.

Click here to register for the webinar

In the media:

Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower Award 2020:
Click here to read about the finalists

NZ Herald: Hastings 26-year-old who's responsible for 80 hectares of apple trees
Maori Television: Three Māori kaimahi nominated for ahuwhenua/horticulture award

TVNZ: NZ's small fruit and vegetable growers under the crunch during lockdown
Newstalk ZB: Golden start to the kiwifruit season for Zespri
RNZ: Lack of market access still a concern for growers in level 3 response
TheSpinoff: The virtual mental health coach to help you get through lockdown angst