Horticulture

Border restrictions and reduced airline capacity in response to Covid-19 are creating anxiety in...

Admission interest from Kiwis overwhelming orchards

Central Otago’s horticulture and viticulture sector acknowledges it underestimated interest from Kiwis in seasonal work and is struggling to deal with "skyrocketing" applications, an industry leader says.

Responses from growers criticised

Responses from growers criticised

Central Otago fruit growers are not only failing to respond to Kiwis applying for work but also doing a poor job of advertising for staff, a union representative says.

Work aplenty for blueberry pickers

Blueberry Country general manager Simon Bardon is hoping to get about 150 pickers for its busy...

Work aplenty for blueberry pickers

A Southland blueberry orchard manager hopes to buck the trend and get Kiwis on board to pick this season’s harvest.

Carrick vineyard owner believed murdered

The Carrick vineyard and winery at Bannockburn is for sale. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Carrick vineyard owner believed murdered

The Auckland woman believed to have been murdered on Saturday, Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong, was the owner of the Carrick vineyard and winery at Bannockburn, in Central Otago.

Picking staff issue takes too much time

Central Otago’s horticulture and viticulture sectors say there is room for improvement when it comes to recruitment — and it is due to juggling work demands with recruitment.

Health needs, housing critical for seasonal workers - union

Increasing the living wage will make a big difference to families, a union advocate says. (file...

Health needs, housing critical for seasonal workers - union

An organisation supporting workers from the Pacific Islands wants employers to ensure staff are well looked after as the seasonal worker scheme starts up again.

'They’re not hiring Kiwis': Locals keen to pick fruit ignored, rejected

A billboard in Great King St, Dunedin, advertising the Work the Seasons scheme which was first...

'They’re not hiring Kiwis': Locals keen to pick fruit ignored, rejected

Locals say they are having applications for fruit picking jobs ignored or rejected, despite moves to allow more immigrant workers into the country.

2000 more Pacific horticultural workers to be admitted

2000 more Pacific horticultural workers to be admitted

The Government has announced 2000 workers from the Pacific will be allowed into New Zealand to fill shortages in the horticulture and wine-growing sectors.

Public-private possible fruit-harvesting answer

Growers say the arduous nature of fruit picking makes it difficult to attract and retain domestic...

Public-private possible fruit-harvesting answer

New Zealand needs a plan to help migrant workers pick fruit and vegetables, or prices will soar and farms could go bust, writes Swati Nagar.

Cherry growers nervous over limited seasonal pickers available

Cherries are graded in Cromwell. Photo: Otago Images

Cherry growers nervous over limited seasonal pickers available

With the border remaining closed to seasonal workers, cherry growers fear huge losses during January's peak harvest time.

Group to connect young with horticulture

Parents (from left) Sarah Millwater, of Hawea, Sarah Fox, of Wanaka and Liz Breslin, of Hawea...

Group to connect young with horticulture

A trio of Upper Clutha women are planning to connect young people with seasonal work opportunities.

Family lavender farm flourishing

The 12ha Wanaka Lavender Farm is run as a commercial lavender farm, but is still very much a...

Family lavender farm flourishing

When there’s a will there’s a way.

Cherry orchardist not getting the pip despite woes

Cheeki Cherries/Dam Good Fruit owner Martin Milne holds some of this year’s harvest. He remains...

Cherry orchardist not getting the pip despite woes

Labour shortages are not going to dampen Martin Milne’s enthusiasm for cherry season as the harvest begins.

Cherry Chaos canned due to worker shortage

Orchard workers tackle last year’s obstacle course. Photo: Allied Press

Cherry Chaos canned due to worker shortage

Roxburgh's Cherry Chaos has been cancelled this summer as the event becomes an indirect casualty of Covid-19.

European potato ‘dumping’ hurting local growers

New Zealand-grown potatoes are at threat due to large quantities of European fries imported into...

European potato ‘dumping’ hurting local growers

An influx of European potato fries into New Zealand has already impacted on domestic growers, with less product planned for growing and staff job losses.

Grower relishing responsibilities

Kowhai Bush Farms operations manager Sarah Mosley in the packing shed. PHOTO: MARY-JO TOHILL

Grower relishing responsibilities

Sarah Mosley’s earliest memories of growing up in South Otago are being out in the potato paddocks with her dad.

Cut-flower farming grew after few seeds planted

Anna Mackay with dogwood, rhododendron and crab apple flowers. PHOTOS: MARK PRICE

Cut-flower farming grew after few seeds planted

Anna Mackay, of Spotts Creek Station in the Cardrona Valley, has diversified into cut flowers. She described to Mark Price her experiences so far.

Ministry responds to labour shortages

Allegations it is not acting fast enough to address labour shortages in Central Otago’s viticulture and horticulture sectors have been rebuffed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).

No change in seasonal worker shortage

Despite lobbying the Government for more action in recruiting workers to the horticulture and viticulture sectors, there is little movement on Central Otago’s orchards and vineyards.

Fields of courgettes wasted as grower can't get workers

Courgette grower Brett Heap in a field where the vegetables were not picked. The courgettes have...

Fields of courgettes wasted as grower can't get workers

Brett Heap is surrounded by food gone to waste - rows of courgettes he couldn't get picked because his expert and specialised workforce can't get into the country.

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