Contractors warn crops at high risk

Rural contractors warn crops will die in fields and stock could go unfed, if the Government can’t make room in managed isolation hotels for skilled migrant workers.

One week since managed isolation bookings became mandatory to enter the country, capacity for the country’s border hotels is at a pinch point, with most returnees facing at least seven-week waits.

Crop growers around the country breathed a sigh of relief in September when the Government granted more than 200 critical worker visas to machinery operators who could help with their summer harvest.

But things hit a snag last week, when managed isolation vouchers became mandatory to enter the country.

Demand for the country’s 32 border hotels spiked and Rural Contractors New Zealand said 61 workers had been unable to get spots in hotels until February.

Chief executive Roger Parton said it would be too late by then, as the harvest would be over.

"Millions of tonnes of silage will not be made and of course later on in the year that is what feeds the cattle. And also, as you see over various years we have droughts and we have to move feed into it to make sure the animals are fed and able to survive. Otherwise it’s a huge impact on the dairy industry and on the beef industry as well," he said.

Mr Parton said the lack of space was a surprise after the Government promised to set aside 10% of the managed isolation rooms specifically for critical workers.

"We need 61 rooms, and we need them urgently. Now I appreciate there’s huge pressure on the isolation facilities and there are people with a number of very valid reasons but I mean, if we can bring in sports teams we can bring in some of these people as well," he said.

On Monday, the booking backlog for the country’s border hotels eased a little when the Government released an extra 100 rooms a day before Christmas. It said spaces were set aside to guard against a spike in demand and would be released daily on a first-in, first-served basis.

At the post-Cabinet briefing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told people wanting to do managed isolation before December to keep trying. Spaces became available every so often, due to the website’s 48-hour hold on new bookings.

"We’ve made sure that what happens first is the ability for someone to reserve a space, while they then go and book their flight ... what we wouldn’t want is ... where people are booking flights and then unable to access a voucher," she said.

Last week, Federated Farmers reported some South Island farmers were getting silage/baleage cut in wet conditions out of desperation and fear that if they didn’t make use of contractors while they were available, there would be none later.

Arable chairman Colin Hurst, of South Canterbury, said traditionally the silage/baleage contracting workforce moved on to harvesting grain from mid-January. Operator delays or shortages could have a big impact.

"Farming is often all about the weather ... you seize your chances when the weather plays ball. Workforce gaps will just have a domino effect all over the place."

Federated Farmers employment spokesman Chris Lewis acknowledged the Government had all sorts of competing demands to balance.

"With no international tourism, surely there is no shortage of hotel space. We can only ask that the authorities do their utmost to expand MIQ space and allocate vouchers according to the best interests of our wider economy," he said.

Katie Todd

— RNZ/additional reporting Otago Daily Times