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8 September 2020

Mike's Blog
The Uncertain Future of Work


With Covid creating work uncertainty for many, horticulture offers new options for kiwis from all backgrounds. Anyone willing to grow their skills as they earn can have a prosperous career in horticulture.

Click here to read Mike's Blog
Click here to watch Mike's Blog on YouTube.
Previous RSE worker repatriation flight arriving in Vanuatu in June. Photo: NZHC - Vanuatu.

RSE / Immigration Update


Repatriation Flights

Vanuatu flights 9 and 23 September: Air Vanuatu has confirmed that the first commercial flights carrying passengers from New Zealand to Port Vila are starting on 9 September, with confirmation of further flights to come. The Vanuatu High Commission continues to coordinate the flight lists for Air Vanuatu flights.
 
Samoa flight on 18 September: Samoa’s Cabinet has agreed to Air New Zealand’s recommendation to reschedule the Friday 11 September flight to Friday 18 September. The rescheduled 18 September flight is expected to use a similar flight list as the cancelled August flight.
 
Tonga: Discussions continue but there is nothing confirmed at present.
 

RSE worker movement

The horticulture and wine sectors are actively pursuing how to enable the movement of RSE workers in the coming season with the Government.
 

Visa changes

The Government announced some visa changes last Friday – see the announcement here.  The changes apply to Working Holiday Scheme Visas that are about to expire.  They do not apply to RSE workers.  

As Working Holiday Scheme Visas expire, the traveller will be put onto a Visitor’s Visa and encouraged to leave New Zealand.  However, horticulture and wine industry organisations have collectively requested that a new Visa be created for expiring Working Holiday Scheme Visas, permitting these travellers to work in the horticulture and wine industries.  We are waiting for the Immigration Minister’s decision on this proposal.

Labour Update


Help for New Zealand workers available for redeployment 

The Ministry for Social Development has published in one place all the assistance available for New Zealand workers who have been displaced and are looking for work in industries such as horticulture.  There is also a range of support for employers helping displaced people find jobs and careers.  

You can find comprehensive and complete information here.

HortNZ

Elections – have your say


You still have time to vote in the 2020 election for Horticulture New Zealand Board directors, if you vote online by 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September. 
 
To recap, there are six candidates seeking election for the three vacancies.  Voting is based on a first-past-the-post system so the three candidates with the most votes will be elected. 
 
You can read the candidate profiles and candidate campaign videos here
 
The results will be announced at the HortNZ AGM on Friday 25 September 2020. 

Horticulture Annual General Meetings move to Zoom


The various horticulture Annual General Meetings (AGMs) that were to have been held in Pukekohe on 25 September 2020 will now be held via Zoom.  This includes the AGMs of Horticulture New Zealand, TomatoesNZ, Vegetables New Zealand, Onions New Zealand and NZGAP. This decision was made in light of the uncertainty caused by current Covid-19 alert levels.
 
Those who wish to attend any of the AGMs should register here.  Information on the AGMs will be available on the HortNZ website and via this newsletter.  Those who have registered will also receive an email with the details.
 
For more information, please contact your respective Product Group.

NZGAP EMS now available in Traditional Chinese


NZGAP has translated the Environment Management System (EMS) add-on checklists into Traditional Chinese. Copies of the translated checklists are available to growers when they register for the EMS add-on, and can also be downloaded from the NZGAP website

The checklists include the Farm Environment Plan template, the self-assessment/audit template, and the progress checklist for growers developing a Farm Environment Plan.

The NZGAP EMS add-on supports growers to meet regulatory expectations for a Farm Environment Plan as an extension to their existing GAP system.

Click here to find out more about Farm Environment Plans and the EMS add-on.

HortNZ in the media:


Horticultural industry pushes for extended visas for workers RNZ
"...Visitors and temporary migrants trapped in this country by the restrictions on travel will now have their visas extended to give them more time to organise flights home.
But Horticulture NZ chief executive Mike Chapman said these changes did little to help people working in the horticultural and wine sectors...."

Industry

Major update to S-map Online soil maps


S-map Online – a tool developed by Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research – provides online soil survey data and can help growers make decisions on site selection, soil management, and Farm Environment Plan development.
 
Last week, the tool was significantly updated. The increase in land area covered makes the tool useful for more growers across the country.  The increased number of soil samples has made for a more robust model for estimating soil water attributes. The update also includes new soil chemistry attribute layers and other new tools.
 
Click here to read the update.

Free trades training through Primary ITO


The Primary Industry Training Organisation (ITO) is now offering free trades training through the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund.  This training includes vehicle (tractor, forklift and quads) and chainsaw units. 
 
Trainee eligibility and programme suitability must be assessed prior to signing up.  To discuss the options, please call the Primary ITO on 0800 20 80 20 to be connected to your local training adviser. 
 
Click here for a list of the programmes and answers to frequently asked questions.

Fresh Produce Safety Centre update and new Border Space issue


The Fresh Produce Safety Centre, an industry organisation for enhancing fresh produce safety across Australasia, has released its Review of the Audit Process. The report identifies areas to improve the auditing process for growers.
Click here to read.

The August issue of The Border Space, a regular update about what Biosecurity NZ is doing to keep New Zealand’s borders secure from pests and diseases, has been released.  Click here to read.

New online game, Pickled, launched by WorkSafe


Pickled is a new resource to help people learn about managing risk and how to take appropriate action to mitigate them, right from the palm of their hand.

The game has been created in partnership with people from industry. It is intended as a free, quick and accessible way for people of all literacy levels to encourage better safety habits.

To find out more, click here.

Our industry the media:

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