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21 December 2020


In this week's issue we cover:

Mike's Blog
2020: A pivotal year for the world


This year has thrown 'normal' out the window. It's also united the industry and shown the vital role it plays in feeding people and earning revenue, with MPI putting hort exports up by 9% this year.

Click here to read Mike's Blog
Click here to watch Mike's Blog on YouTube.

HortNZ and NZGAP offices closed until 11 Jan

The HortNZ and NZGAP offices will be closed from 12pm on Wednesday 23 December until Monday 11 January 2021.

If you have a NZGAP certification anniversary during this period, please complete your renewal process ASAP, by emailing NZGAP or calling 04 470 5867. 

If you have an urgent NZGAP query during the Christmas close down, please contact NZGAP Manager, Damien Farrelly at 027 536 8063, or emailing Damien.Farrelly@hortnz.co.nz.

For other enquiries, contact HortNZ Chief Executive, Mike Chapman at Mike.Chapman@hortnz.co.nz or call 027 487 4264.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best over the festive season and we look forward to working with you in 2021.  This newsletter will return on 12 January 2021. 

Labour

Government Decisions

In the last few days, the Government has made a number of decisions:
  • Minimum wage increasing to $20 from 1 April 2021 – click here for further details
  • An extension on the use of overseas driving licences from 12 months to 24 months
  • A change to Visa conditions for working holiday visas (backpackers) and essential skills visas
  • Permitting independent fruit and vegetable retailers to open under a level 3 lockdown should that be imposed again
 

Drivers Licence Extension

The eligibility period for driving in New Zealand on an overseas driver licence has been temporarily extended to allow people to drive on an overseas licence for up to 24 months.
 
There is, however, a problem. If you have already passed the theory test on or before 17 December, but not yet completed the practical test, you can only drive with a supervisor. 
 
We have gone back and challenged this ruling as people in the process of getting a New Zealand drivers licence have been unintentionally penalised because;
(1) there is a long delay between completing the theory test and getting a practical test in many parts of the country, and
(2) the time taken to get this change by the Government has operated against overseas workers and visitors who have been proactive. 
 
We will keep you advised on any developments, and have asked for a waiver of the supervisor requirement.
Click here for the Overseas Licence Extension fact sheet

Visa Conditions

On Sunday, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced several visa changes, including a six month extension to Working Holiday visas. Anyone on a Working Holiday visa can now work in any job without restrictions, and won’t have to change their visa to an SSE visa.
 
This change opens the door to up to 13,000 Working Holiday visa holders to the industry but means that they can work in any industry, meaning there will be high demand for these workers. 
 
There are approximately 2100 overseas workers who have already transferred to an SSE visa who will remain on the SSE visa. These visa holders can only work in horticulture and viticulture roles, meaning that these employers who have vacancies on the MSD regions and roles list can employ SSE visa holders. Additionally, any SSE registered employers can still employ SSE visa holders for approved horticulture and viticulture roles. 
 
People who aren’t on Working Holiday visas (with non-open work rights visas like visitors, employer assisted work visas or students) who are reaching the end of their visa and want to be able to work in New Zealand will still have to apply for an SSE.
 
This decision is a major reversal from the Minister’s decision back in September. HortNZ has registered bewilderment at this change and along with NZ Apples & Pears, NZKGI and Summerfruit NZ we will collectively work for better immigration settings and conditions.

Click here for more information.

Greengrocers considered essential in future Covid Alert Level 3 

Our repeated requests for independent fruit and vegetable retailers to be permitted to be open under Alert Level 3 appears to have been successful.  

Refer to the section on Workplaces, Alert Level 3: 
[At Alert Level 3]: “Businesses cannot offer services that involve close personal contact, unless a supermarket, dairy, primary produce retailer (e.g. greengrocer, fish monger or butcher), pharmacy, petrol station or hardware store providing goods to trade customers, or it is an emergency or critical situation.”

We did not get an official response to our requests but this is on the Government’s official Covid website so is the official position. HortNZ will continue to seek clarity on the decision, and for it to also apply at Alert Level 4.
 

2,000 RSE's subsequent employers

Thank you to all RSE employers for working with us on the allocation process for the 2,000 RSE workers permitted to come into the country.  The initial priority has been getting the names for the flights.  The allocation process for the second and subsequent employers has had to take second place due to the enormous amount of work required to get the flights sorted. 
 
A big acknowledgment and thank you to NZ Apples & Pears and NZKGI for their work on the flights. This is not an easy situation to work through.  We are trying to minimise the bureaucracy associated with the movement of these workers.  If you have any queries, please contact: We have also made the point that we need to ensure that for the rest of 2021 and, particularly for the spring crops, we need to make sure we have RSE worker movement.
 
 

Where to list job vacancies

Click here for websites to list job vacancies on.

 

Work the Seasons accommodation listings

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has launched an accommodation listings page on its seasonal job website Work the Seasons.

Find out more and list your accommodation on www.worktheseasons.co.nz

Coverage of decisions in the media


Minimum wage hike will boost local economy - minister RNZ
Government extends working holiday visas 1 News
Foreigners' eligibility to drive on overseas license temporarily extended RNZ
Alert Level 3 rules changed so fishmongers, butchers and greengrocers can operate 1 News
Industry

Resources

Where to go for hort environment updates

Regional environment updates have been included in the new HortNZ website. As part of HortNZ’s work on environmental policy, we have developed a new resource for growers and officials to find relevant information about the policies which relate to the industry.

Split in two, the Environment section is divided into National policy and Regional update sections. You can find summaries on most topics and regional plan changes, with more resources and summaries being added to it.

If you have any feedback about the HortNZ website, please contact Hugh Chesterman at Hugh.Chesterman@hortnz.co.nz
Click here to view the HortNZ environment page

Covid

Changes to the Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme

Businesses that were eligible for the original wage subsidy due to a loss of actual or predicted revenue can apply for the loan scheme if they have 50 employees or less.  

Changes have been made to the scheme to extend the interest free periods, and relax restrictions on how the loan can be spent.
Click here for full details

Leadership

Kellogg Tai Tokerau applications open

The first regionally hosted Kellogg Rural Leadership programme is being run in Tai Tokerau (Whangarei), starting in May 2021.

With the course being run in Tai Tokerau, there will be less travel and costs involved for participants, and less time spent away from whanau and work.

Applications for programme close on 31 January 2021.
Find out more and apply here

Field Day

Strawberry thrips management day

Strawberry Growers NZ is organising a Future-proofing Thrips Management in Strawberries field day for growers on Thursday 14 January 2021.

When: 12-3pm, Thursday 14 January.
Where: Danube Strawberries, 143 Fred Taylor Drive, Whenuapai, Auckland 

RSVP as soon as possible to Karen Orr by email at info@strawbsnz.co.nz or call (04) 494 9984.
Click here for more info

Events

2021 Hawkes Bay Young Fruit Grower entries open

Do you know a talented young fruit or vegetable grower? Applications for the Hawkes Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year event have opened, with the competition running between 3 and 4 June 2021.

The event is a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming young horticulturists to pit their knowledge and practical skills against other young industry leaders and innovators.
Click here for more info

Envrionment

Open Farms 2021

In March this year, New Zealand’s first Open Farms was held, with 45 farms opening their gates and inviting urban New Zealanders to experience where their food starts.

Open Farms is seeking participation from growers in its 2021 on Sunday 21 February.  If you are interested, please contact Nicky Berger at nicky@openfarms.co.nz
Click here for more info

Industry in the media


Labour:
Local interest picks up Rural News

Research:
Taking stock of farming changes Otago Daily Times
New research aims to increase longevity of bumblebee hives The Herald

Water:
Bay of Plenty on drought watch as residents urged to conserve water use RNZ
Massive water storage project underway in Far North 1 News
HortNZ Twitter
HortNZ LinkedIn
HortNZ YouTube
HortNZ Website
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