2 February 2022

In this week's issue we cover:

The latest Covid information
Pricing agricultural emissions – Have your say
NZGAP Certification and Audits at Red
Managing labour demands key to boosting asparagus
Wet, warm weather a shocker for strawberries
PickNZ: seasonal vacancy job board
GoHort: permanent vacancy job board
Industry Trainee Scholarships available
Waikato District Plan decision notified
Supporting Tonga's recovery

Nadine's update:

It’s hard to stay positive

"Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it allows the opportunity for creativity and growth." Tom Barrett

It’s hard to stay positive at the moment with so much uncertainty. The world’s in crisis thanks to Covid, climate change and political tensions like the Ukraine. I do push our communications team to find the positive way to convey our messages because I believe a positive mind-set is important, hence the quote this week when we are staring down the barrel of chaos over the coming weeks.

In the past week, HortNZ and the product groups have lobbied hard for more clarity around critical workers – seeking a robust definition and how that system is going to work – as well as for accessing rapid antigen test (RAT) tests.

Read Nadine's full update here.

The latest Covid information

HortNZ has been bringing together Government information about what to do to keep Covid out of your workplace, and what to do if you have a positive case. Read previous HortNZ Omicron updates here.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is expected to establish a Critical Workforce Register within the next two weeks. The Register will be to prioritise allocation of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to businesses in Phase 2 and 3 of the three-phase Omicron response. There is no further information about this process and who will be eligible to register as a 'critical worker'.

Any important new information from the Government will be sent out via this newsletter, and published on the HortNZ website. The website is being regularly updated with the latest Covid information and revised resources for growers.

Click here for HortNZ's Covid page

HortNZ in the media

Pricing agricultural emissions
– Have your say

HortNZ represents the horticulture industry in the He Waka Eke Noa partnership on climate change. Over the past two years, the partnership has been working on design options for a pricing system for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. This means nitrous oxide from synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and methane and nitrous oxide from animals.

Webinars

HortNZ is hosting two Zoom webinars in February for our industry to discuss the pricing system options and what this might mean for growers.

Friday 11 February, 10.00 – 11.30am. Click here to register
Friday 18 February, 10.00 – 11.30am. Click here to register

DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb, and Federated Farmers are working together to offer engagement events across the country. To register, visit the DairyNZ or Beef + Lamb websites.

Have your say

He Waka Eke Noa agricultural emissions pricing options consultation documents, supporting technical reports, and online survey are now available on the He Waka Eke Noa website here.

You can provide feedback via an in-person or online event, and/or by completing the short survey below. The survey closes on 25 February and should take four-minutes to complete. All feedback will be anonymously collated.

Click here to complete the survey

Our industry
Most growers have relatively low emissions, and therefore the emissions reductions achievable are likely to be small. For many growers the costs of claiming emissions reduction or sequestration rebates under either of the two He Waka Eke Noa options may exceed their value.

To avoid a situation where the money paid by the horticulture sector is diverted into administration costs and paying rebates for the benefit of higher emitting sectors, the horticulture sector considers it vital that He Waka Eke Noa includes specific criteria that ensure revenue recycling benefits the horticulture sector and that price settings and the distribution of the administration cost should reward low emissions farming. These criteria should influence the pricing, revenue recycling, and administration costs distribution of both the Farm-level and the Processor-level hybrid pricing options.

Click here for more info

NZGAP Certification and Audits at Red

Certifications for all NZGAP programmes and add-ons are being delivered as usual during the Red traffic light setting. To maintain the integrity of certification, audits will continue where possible during the red setting (see NZGAP guidance for undertaking audits during Traffic Light System).

There are options for audits to be carried out on-site, a combination of on-site and off-site (a blended audit), or remotely (year 2+ only).

The audit option selected will be dependent on individual circumstances and will be guided by NZGAP Rules for Audits during Covid-19 Pandemic, the Conformity Assessment Body Health and Safety Protocols, and the Health and Safety Protocols of the business being audited.

Check the NZGAP website for more information, or if you have any queries, please contact us by emailing info@nzgap.co.nz or calling 04 470 5867.

Click here for more info

Worth a read

Managing labour demands key to boosting asparagus

It was two tales of one season for asparagus growers as bigger operators were hit by export barriers and constricted markets, while more localised ones met or even exceeded previous targets.

Read the article

Wet, warm weather a shocker for strawberries

Having planted strawberries in early June, Gisborne grower Kristine Peck was selling fruit by mid-October and anticipating a busy period leading up to Christmas and beyond.

Read the article

Workforce

PickNZ: seasonal vacancy job board

The 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 site to post permanent roles and internship opportunities for a horticulture industry audience, from entry-level to senior roles.

The GoHort website promotes careers in horticulture, and the job board showcases the variety of positions available.

Industry

Industry Trainee Scholarships available

Applications are open for HortNZ's Industry Trainee Scholarships.

Every year, HortNZ offers scholarships for New Zealand students and trainees who have an interest in the fruit or vegetable industry and are studying towards a certificate or diploma.

There are 30 scholarships available this year, each worth $500. Applications are due by 11pm, 5 March 2022. The scholarship panel will review applications in April with the selection decision advised in May.

Click here for more info and to apply

Waikato District Plan decision notified

The Waikato District Council has notified its decision on the Proposed Waikato District Plan. Click here to read more. The decision follows a process of submissions and hearings. Unless aspects of the plan are appealed, this will be the new District Plan for the district.

HortNZ was a submitter on the plan and is currently reviewing the decision. The appeal period closes on 2 March 2022.

Supporting Tonga's recovery

Donations are still being accepted to help with the recovery in Tonga, following the 14 January volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The Growers Relief Fund is being used to collect donations to support the recovery. Money donated by our industry will be used to help small businesses recover.

Click here to donate

Industry in the media

Omicron
Horticulture, meat processors push for private RAT test orders RNZ
Access to RAT tests Farmers Weekly

Emissions
Agricultural emissions working group not pleasing Minister Newstalk

Labour
Another season with staff shortages RNZ
Pick Nelson RNZ
Coming HB apple season RNZ

Cherry season
Better season this year RNZ

Food prices
Expect pricier veges in February Stuff