Hi everyone
I hope you are all doing well in your bubbles. Being in lockdown can cause people to feel anxious or stressed, so please remember to take care of yourselves, as well as doing what you can to ensure the wellbeing of your employees.
Covid-19 update
To keep you fully informed, Summerfruit NZ is linking to HortNZ’s Covid-19 updates as the single source of truth, unless we need to provide you with any summerfruit-specific information. Please keep up-to-date by checking the Summerfruit NZ or HortNZ websites and keep an eye out for regular emailed updates. This lockdown is a stark reminder to review your orchard and packhouse Level 4 contingency plans – take the opportunity to do this now, in case New Zealand is in another lockdown during the summerfruit harvest season. It’s best to be prepared as much as possible in advance.
RSE progress
I want to update you all on the progress with moving future RSE flights to Quarantine Free Travel (QFT). RSE employers are being kept informed via communications from HortNZ in collaboration with the industry collective group that I’m a member of. The industry collective is in discussions with the Government to convert pre-planned MIQ flights to quarantine free flights, but it’s still unknown when these QFT flights will start, and from which countries, as this relies on the outcome of Government to Government negotiations.
While New Zealand is in Alert Level 4, MFAT is continuing these crucial discussions with the sending Pacific nations. The big unknown at this stage is what this lockdown in New Zealand means for the transition from MIQ to QFT flights. The work needed to switch RSE travel from MIQ to QFT involves a lot of work to get the processes and systems right, and there’s a huge effort being put into this. A survey will be sent out shortly to RSE employers, which will form part of the fair and transparent allocation process for future QFT flights.
Summerfruit NZ survey
On the topic of surveys, thanks very much to everyone who took the time to complete the Summerfruit NZ labour survey. The results are being analysed and will form the basis for our work on labour and logistics.
Submission to the Commerce Commission
HortNZ is preparing a submission on the Commerce Commission’s draft market study into the retail grocery sector, and Summerfruit NZ will be a signatory to this submission.
Hawke's Bay visit
Finally, earlier this week (which feels a long time ago now), I visited Hawke's Bay with Summerfruit NZ Deputy Board Chair Trudi Webb, and Tracey Mansfield our Labour Coordinator. We held a workshop on Monday afternoon for Hawke’s Bay growers which was available to join via Zoom.
The meeting was fairly well attended and there was good discussion on what support MSD can offer growers, and what growers can do to attract and retain their seasonal workforce. Thanks also to the growers who welcomed Trudi, Tracey and I onto their orchards during our time in Hawke's Bay.
Keep safe
Please take care and look after yourselves during lockdown, and enjoy your weekend.
Kate