|
|
|
COVID-19 update
HortNZ is closely monitoring the COVID-19 coronavirus situation and its potential impact on the horticulture industry. The situation is constantly evolving. Please keep an eye on this newsletter as well as our website’s homepage. What follows is our latest update.
|
|
- Government support
The business continuity package announced by the Government will help businesses to keep operating. Wage support and tax measures are focused in key areas of need:
Wage subsidies (applications via the Ministry for Social Development, MSD)
- $558 per week for a full-time worker
- $350 per week for part-time worker
Leave payment scheme (applications via MSD)
Sick pay at $585 per week for full-time workers and $350 per week for part-time workers, for 14 days for those self-isolating, and for the entire period of sickness for those who contract COVID-19.
This is for all employees, the self-employed and contractors (but not for those who can work from home), where the business has had a 30% or greater decline in revenue due to COVID-19, month-on-month for any month between January and June 2020.
For more information from Work and Income, click here.
|
|
- People
To mitigate the effects of potential labour shortages, HortNZ is continuing to work with the Chairs of the Regional Labour Groups, MSD and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to assess labour requirements in horticulture across the regions.
The aim is to fill gaps with people who are not currently in work in other industries like forestry, who have transferable skills relevant to horticulture.
The movement of people is becoming tightly restricted, with countries around the world closing borders or imposing rules on travellers.
Anyone who has travelled overseas to countries, excluding most (see below) Pacific Island countries, are being advised to self-isolate for 14 days. Travellers from Pacific Island countries and territories (listed below) are only advised to self-isolate if they are unwell or develop flu-like symptoms.
The Vanuatu government is currently assessing the situation for their RSE workers and is expected to release a statement in the coming days.
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.
For more information, click here.
|
|
- Food
There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. However, it is always important to follow good hygiene practices when working with food.
Employers should:
• ensure staff are aware of the COVID-19 issue
• stay informed of staff who have been overseas to affected regions or in contact with persons who have, and seek appropriate medical advice
• ensure that food handlers are trained appropriately in food hygiene practices appropriate to their premises
• ensure effective supervision of food handlers to reinforce hygienic practices
• ensure that appropriate facilities are provided for hand washing or sanitation (e.g. alcohol gels/wipes) to enable food handlers to practice good hygiene
• ensure that food handlers and external contractors are aware that they must report any signs/symptoms of respiratory illness before or during work
• keep vigilant and ensure that food handlers and other staff are not ill and are fit to work
• ensure that staff with symptoms stay home until medical advice is obtained
• support staff with access to medical advice and recovery.
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
|
|
- Eating healthily and buying local
Although these are uncertain times, it is an opportunity to remind people of the benefits that eating New Zealand fruit and vegetables has to offer. People need to eat, and eating a healthy diet with at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day helps boost immune systems and a sense of wellbeing. Encouraging consumers to buy local produce will also help support local businesses and jobs.
|
|
- Trade
There are no additional sanitary or phytosanitary requirements are required for the export of products to China.
Businesses which export products are being advised to consider possible risks to their supply chain logistics such as port/border closures in Europe or shipping container availability.
MPI has received confirmation from food safety, customs, and animal and plant quarantine officials stating that there are no changes to their customs and import clearance procedures.
For more information from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, click here.
|
|
Below are more useful links to information about COVID-19
General health information
Ministry of Health
World Health Organisation
Information for business
Business.govt – Information for businesses
Worksafe – Workplace preparedness for Coronavirus
Immigration NZ – Immigration update
NZTE – Information for exporters
Food Safety
MPI - Coronavirus and food safety
|
|
|
Waikato Plan Change 1
The Waikato Plan Change decision announced today allows vegetable growing in the short term but fails to take account of population growth and the need for healthy food, across New Zealand.
“HortNZ estimates that in less than five years, Waikato’s population growth will have outstripped the expansion in vegetable growing that the Waikato Plan Change decision supports,” says HortNZ Chief Executive, Mike Chapman.
“What is needed is a National Environmental Standard for Commercial Vegetable Growing so we can continue to grow vegetables in New Zealand, and expand production to keep up with population growth,” says Mike.
The decision on Plan Change 1 allows for rotation of crops and limited expansion of production but not enough to keep up with population growth.
|
|
NZGAP Contractor Standard – coming soon
In April 2020, NZGAP will be launching a new Contractor Standard for those providing services to NZGAP or GLOBALG.A.P. certified growers. The standard has been established to support growers by providing assurance to markets, regulators and consumers on food safety, and the welfare of workers in the horticulture industry.
The NZGAP Contractor Standard has been benchmarked against the relevant GLOBALG.A.P. questions, meaning the audit outcome can readily integrate into a grower’s GLOBALG.A.P. or NZGAP audit. The Contractor Standard also includes the NZGAP Social Practice add-on, which has been developed to align with GRASP with increased emphasis on local market requirements and New Zealand employment law.
Growers seeking the services of approved contractors will be able to search for them on the NZGAP public register, which will be available with the launch of the new programme on the NZGAP website. Contractors seeking NZGAP approval will be able to register in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out for further updates from HortNZ.
|
|
Call for HortNZ directors 2020
This year, three grower elected Horticulture New Zealand directors will retire by rotation. The HortNZ board is also looking to appoint a director to complement the skills, experience and knowledge of the grower directors elected by members.
Nominations are being sought from individual grower members, affiliated product groups, and affiliated grower associations for the three director vacancies. The nomination form and job description are available on the HortNZ website at the link below.
Candidates who are interested in applying for the appointed director position can find more details, including a job description at the link below.
For more information, contact Kerry Norman or call 0508 467 869.
|
|
The Government has advised that public events and gatherings of 500 or more people should be cancelled.
We are assessing all the events that we had planned for this year in light of the Government’s advice and growing public and stakeholder concerns.
We will be continue to post event updates in this newsletter.
|
|
ECan - Mahinga Kai workshop - POSTPONED
Environment Canterbury has postponed the upcoming workshop on mahinga kai.
|
|
Farm Environment Plan workshops - POSTPONED
The next FEP workshops in Canterbury and Pukekohe have been postponed. Anyone who has already registered for these workshops will be contacted. Alternative plans are being made to cover the content through an online webinar or video at a later date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|