“There are significant employment opportunities in our primary industries and we’re going to be training people to have the skills they need for the jobs we have.
“There are a lot of opportunities in front of us. We now need a skilled workforce to help us seize them.
“To that end we’re investing $19.3m in a range of initiatives that will partner and support more than 10,000 New Zealanders in primary sector jobs by rapidly retraining and absorbing workers displaced from other sectors like hospitality, tourism and aviation.
“It will be a big change for some so we’ll be creating familiarisation courses to help new workers settle into primary sector roles and lives.”
Discussions have been held with Telford, part of the Southern Institute of Technology, about expanding its three-day taster programmes, which give potential students a look at the type of work they are considering without having to commit to a longer period of study.
The potential for Taratahi, which went into liquidation at the end of 2018, along with other education providers to get involved is also being explored.
O’Connor says the chance to train and retain people in primary sector jobs could be a silver lining to come out of the unprecedented detrimental effect covid-19 has had on the economy.
The Government is working with DairyNZ to get 1000 more people into the dairy industry in the next couple of months as part of its goal to increase the primary workforce by at least 10,000 within a year.
Longer term it aims to increase the overall primary sector workforce by 50,000 people but will refine the numbers needed in different parts of the sector over time as acute shortages become more apparent.
The Budget’s commitment of $128m to control wilding pines and wallabies will protect farmers from costly pests and provide hundreds of jobs for people most affected by covid-19, he says.
“The wilding pine funding will be a game-changer in our fight against a pest that is a $4.6 billion threat to our economy while providing up to 600 jobs.”
The programme will expand nationally, including areas hit hardest by covid-19 such as Northland, Queenstown, the Mackenzie Basin, Kaikoura and Marlborough.
O’Connor expects many of those involved in outdoor tourism in those areas will adapt well to the new job opportunities.
There is also a $433m package to fund 4000 jobs over five years in regional environmental projects, which will support the Government’s Action for Healthy Waterways plan.
Though the Budget had no specific information on funding for shovel-ready infrastructure projects, rural projects such as water storage, cellphone and internet connectivity and roads are still in the mix, he says.
The is another $3b to fund infrastructure projects on top of the $12b Upgrade Programme and Provincial Growth Fund infrastructure investments.
The independent Infrastructure Industry Reference Group is weighing up 1924 submissions with a combined value of $136b before reporting back to the Government with its recommendations.
Horticulture has been singled out in the Budget for specific investment with $38.5m over four years to ensure the sector has safe access to plant breeding material while also focusing on new markets.
“On top of this, $6.8 million will provide secure greenhouse units for new, imported plant varieties and breeding material.
“This will help the high-performing sector to develop innovative, high-value crops and cultivars while protecting NZ from high-impact pests.”
The numbers
•$19.3m to help attract and train unemployed people and increase the primary sector workforce by 10,000 within a year
•$128m for wilding pine and wallaby control, providing hundreds of jobs
•$14.9m to reduce food waste by redirecting food to people in need
•$20.2m to help rural and fishing communities recover from covid-19
•$45.3m over four years to help horticulture take opportunities for future growth
•$5.4m for resources to identify and manage animal welfare issues
