Saturday, March 30, 2024

Trees, vines still need workers

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The first graduates from the Government-funded winter pruning programme have stepped onto kiwifruit orchards as the industry continues to eye more workers amid continuing labour shortages.
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The programme has $200,000 specifically to train winter pruners.

The kiwifruit sector was hard hit by covid-19 when more than 1000 Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from the Pacific Islands were prevented from coming here for the work.

Many are skilled pruners required for the intensive work after harvest.

The funding has enabled the sector to develop two courses for potential trainees. 

One was a one-day taster to provide an insight to the industry while the other was a five-day intensive training programme aimed at building pruning skills. 

Between them the courses drew in 56 participants with 26 completing the five-day programme.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Nikki Johnson said course costs were fully funded with participants also receiving a complete set of pruning gear to aid employability.

Typically, winter pruning is regarded as the sharp end of the orcharding skill set and it can take two or more seasons to master. Once trained a capable pruner can expect to earn about $1500 a week on contract.

Johnson said by the end of the five-day course participants had gained a strong start, understanding different pruning styles for different varieties, with a focus on practical skills.

Labour coordinator Gavin Stagg said the first intake was a broad cross-section of people aged 20 to 50 from a wide employment spectrum.

“We had people who had lost their jobs in the hospitality sector who may have picked kiwifruit before. We even had someone who had been a builder and we had a good balance of males and females.”

Having a one-day taster proved invaluable in sorting out those committed to training over the five days.

“Of course, it is not for everyone but for those who did train up there are good job opportunities there.”

All the five-day trainees were given a list of potential employers.

“And there were far more employers than there were people on the course.”

Some are now working in winter pruning operations.

Stagg said there is still a strong demand for pruner and Kiwifruit Growers is looking at arranging a second course and using the template to set up courses outside Bay of Plenty, including in Gisborne and Northland.

Meantime, in Rotorua pine tree country there is still opportunity for displaced workers to get a foothold in the silviculture industry.

Forest Industry Contractors Association chief executive Prue Youngeer said numbers have been quite light nationally for the $2.5 million funding provided for silviculture training.

Earlier this year estimates were that about 1000 extra workers would be needed to help meet planting targets nationally.

“I am hearing most contractors are on track and have staff with one or two saying they could use a few more.”

The $2.5m is enough to train 500 new staff and Younger suspects there might be a surge in interest in September when the Government wage support stops.

“So far we would only just be knocking on 100 people. We have had quite strong uptake from around East Coast but, perhaps surprisingly, a shortage of people applying in the Rotorua district given the impact of covid on tourism.”

Younger said the industry is keen to promote the many opportunities for people keen to work in forestry.

She cautioned the $2.5m came on a use-it-or-lose-it basis and the support package has been extended till late September.

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