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28 September 2021

 

In this week's issue we cover:


Nadine's update:

Seasonal worker movement from the Pacific confirmed 

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has confirmed that quarantine free travel for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers from some Pacific countries will start on 4 October 2021.  

This good news comes after two previous announcements: one from the Prime Minister and another from the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor.  These earlier announcements enabled the industry collective (NZKGI, NZAPI, Summerfruit NZ, NZ Ethical Employers, Wine NZ and HortNZ) to work with Government officials to make quarantine free travel as practical as possible, and to re-schedule the deferred MIQ flights from Vanuatu and Samoa.
 
In October, there will be two quarantine free flights from Vanuatu, the first arriving on 4 October and the second on 11 October, as well as a quarantine free flight from Samoa arriving on 16 October.  

Already planned is another quarantine free flight from Samoa later in November and the last MIQ flight from the Solomons on 4 November.  The Solomons flight remains MIQ as the Government has only authorised quarantine free flights from Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga.
 

Read Nadine's full update here.

People in Glasshouses Country Calendar

Southern Paprika, a family-run horticulture business in Warkworth, grows millions of capsicums a year in their vast high-tech glasshouse operation, in the most environmentally sustainable way they can.

Covid situation 

Auckland is at Alert Level 3, and the rest of New Zealand remains at Alert Level 2.  These settings will be reviewed by the Government on Monday 4 October. 

Please keep an eye on covid19.govt.nz for updates.  Please also keep an eye on the HortNZ website’s Covid page: www.hortnz.co.nz/covid19/.   

Auckland boundary 
The precise location and layout of the Auckland Alert Level boundary, including checkpoints, are shown on this map on the Covid19.govt.nz website.  A reminder that the current requirements are:
Click here to view previous HortNZ Covid updates
Young Grower

Tickets available for Young Grower final


Tickets are still available for the Young Grower of the Year final which is now being held on 20-21 October in Lower Hutt, Wellington. 
 
The two-day event will run more or less as previously planned.  During the day on 20 October, the finalists will rotate their way through business and practical activities.
The awards dinner is being held at Lower Hutt Events Centre on 21 October, starting at 5.00pm with the Ballance Agri-Nutrients leadership panel where the finalists will give their views on a contemporary issue facing the industry. The panel will be followed by the awards dinner and FMG speech competition.  Tickets for the dinner are available either individually or can be booked as a group of 10.
Click here to book tickets

Meet the finalists of the 2021 Young Grower of the Year: Jonathan Bates


Hear from Jonathan, a block supervisor for Birdhurst who was the winner of the Nelson Young Grower competition.
Industry

Railway line safety reminder 

Kiwirail has reported some ‘near miss’ incidents on the railway corridor running through Blenheim and also on the rail corridor at Seddon in Marlborough.  

KiwiRail has requested that employers in the area talk to employees about not walking along rail tracks, remembering that it is illegal to cross or walk along railway tracks (trespass) at any place other than a designated level crossing.

A person can be fined up to $10,000 if convicted of trespassing on railway tracks. 

KiwiRail also says that the frequency of trains travelling on the railway lines in Marlborough will increase dramatically once the area comes out of Covid Alert Level 2, so the risk for those trespassing will increase.

Grocery market study delayed

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has announced that the final report for the Commerce Commission’s retail grocery market study must now be published by 8 March 2022 (delayed from 23 November 2021 due to Covid).

The delay will also provide extensions for some stakeholders to submit on the draft report.
 

Virtual consultation conference

Due to restrictions on in-person meetings, the Commerce Commission will now be holding an online virtual consultation conference instead of the planned in-person conference. This will take place in the second half of October 2021.

The Commission will send out an update soon with more detail on the conference, including specific dates, topics for discussion and how you can register your interest to participate in sessions.
Click here to read the full update

PickNZ: seasonal vacancy job board


The newly developed PickNZ Job Board is a free site for employers to list seasonal roles such as harvest, packhouse or thinning work. PickNZ is the go-to site for listing seasonal horticultural roles, and is being backed by industry and government to help fill seasonal vacancies. 

GoHort: permanent vacancy job board


The GoHort job board is a free job board to post permanent positions and internship opportunities for a hort industry audience, from entry-level to senior roles.  The GoHort website promotes starting a career in horticulture, with the job board offering an insight into the variety of positions and internships available.
Read more about the new PickNZ Job Board

MG Marketing Charitable Trust funding applications due 22 October 2021

The MG Marketing Charitable Trust (MG Trust) has been established to contribute towards the general improvement, capability and profile of the horticulture industry in New Zealand.
 
Applications for the next funding round are due on 22 October 2021.  To apply for funding, visit the MG Trust webpage.
 
You can also email mgtrust@mgmarketing.co.nz if you have any questions about the MG Trust or the application process.
Click here for more info

NZKGI recruiting two roles

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc is recruiting for two positions.  Find out more here: 
 
Performance and Supply Manager
Data/Policy Analyst

PVGA scholarship 

The Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA) has created a new scholarship fund to support horticultural study.  The $5000 scholarship fund will be awarded to a student or split between multiple students.  

Applications are due by 1 November. Click here for information and eligibility criteria.  If you queries, please get in touch with the Scholarship Coordinator, Grant Ryan, on 021 550 289 or email secretary@pvga.org.nz.  
Click here for more info

Notification of the Proposed Waimakariri District Plan

The Waimakariri District Council has notified the proposed Waimakariri District Plan for public consultation.  The district plan will set the rules and associated provisions for how people can use, develop or subdivide land.  Information about the proposed plan is available as an ePlan, in digital (electronic) format only, on the Council’s Let’s Talk website: www.waimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk
 
Anyone can make a submission on the Proposed District Plan. HortNZ will be preparing a submission in the best interest of growers. Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 26 November 2021.
 
The Council is running a number of ‘Talk to a Planner’ Drop-in Sessions.  Click here for session times and locations.
 
If you have comments for the HortNZ submission, please contact Rachel McClung at Rachel.McClung@hortnz.co.nz or
027 582 7474.

New date for Citrus NZ conference

The Citrus NZ conference, field trip and dinner has been rescheduled to
11 November 2021.

All previous details will remain the same. The conference is being held at the Bushmere Arms, with registration open from 8:30am.
Register and event info here

Industry in the media


Labour
Seasonal workers from some Pacific Islands can skip MIQ next week Stuff
Self-isolation pilot welcomed, fears remain about Delta's 'long tail' NewstalkZB
New talent and skills to underpin sector’s future Bayleys Rural Insight and the Waikato Times
 
Vegetables
Mega-greenhouse arrives for year-round salad growing Stuff
Meet the grower: Woodhaven Gardens F+B Tech
 
Apples
Demand for NZ apples in India continues to grow RNZ
HortNZ Twitter
HortNZ LinkedIn
HortNZ YouTube
HortNZ Website
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