The shortage has horticultural heads exasperated at the need for greater understanding from the Government of how dire the situation has become.
The Social Development Ministry declared a seasonal labour shortage for kiwifruit early this month and extended the already declared labour shortage hitting Hawke’s Bay.
Shortfalls in staff numbers have increased over last year’s with Bay of Plenty’s deficit of 1400 likely to push 3800 at the mid-April harvest peak. Last year the region was short by 1200 staff at this stage of harvest.
Hawke’s Bay apple growers face a shortage of 1500-2000 staff, up from 1200 last year.
Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said this season’s shortage is compounded by some crops ripening earlier than usual but mainly by an 8% surge in fruit volumes on last year, making this year a record harvest.
“The initial declaration of a labour shortage in February saw us gain an additional 200 staff and we can only hope we get at least that this time with the extension.”
Smaller growers, in particular, are hit hard by the picker shortage that will peak in April.
“Often they are banding together through their supplier groups to get the job done but they don’t have anywhere else to go. All contracting labour companies are fully committed.”
Pollard said the industry has made it clear to the Government it cannot continue with such shortages unresolved every season.
The highly regarded Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme typically provides work for 12,850 workers, of whom 2000 head to Bay of Plenty and a similar number to Hawke’s Bay.
“But it appears the RSE cap is not necessarily related to any robust analysis,” Pollard said.
“We would sooner see the rules relaxed in return for businesses showing they are good employers of these people.”
Pacific Island nations have indicated they are more than capable and willing to provide more workers, with income from the scheme forming as much as 15% of some nations’ GDP.
Pollard questioned the accuracy of the advice the Government gets from advisers on the labour issue.
“We have tried frequently to get them to visit Hawke’s Bay and Nelson to see the implications of the shortages. This has to stop being an annual issue.”
Declaring a labour shortage opens up the chance for visiting tourists to apply for work in the regions on their visa. As a measure it is described by ministry officials as a last resort used only when all other levers to boost staffing levels have been exhausted.
About 60% of the apple crop remains to be picked.
The region has also experienced a movement of 1400 locals off the dole and into employment over the past three months and another 375 workers placed into the horticultural sector.
The kiwifruit shortage comes only a month after the industry tried to prevent a repeat of last year’s labour crisis.
Launched for the first time through NZ Kiwifruit Growers, the Kiwifruit Jobs NZ campaign aimed to rekindle interest in the seasonal sector.
The campaign emphasises the sector’s pay rates, accommodation availability, flexibility and work variety to locals, as much as to traditional backpacker workers. Kiwifruit Growers also employed a full time co-ordinator to the role.
This year’s crop is estimated to be similar to last year’s 150 million trays but includes 12% more time-sensitive SunGold.
Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Nikki Johnson said while it is difficult to identify exactly how many people have been recruited through the campaign it reached 38,000 people on Facebook. A recruiting video has since been translated into German.
She acknowledged while the sector will continue to try to recruit locals, that source is heavily depleted by the buoyant jobs market and RSE workers are valuable for providing consistent labour.
“Access to more would be good for us but we do have to be cognisant of RSE’s impact on the workers’ home countries.”
She remains confident fruit will not be left rotting on the vine.
“I believe the Government does get the problem but also faces the need to try to get as many New Zealanders as possible working. It’s a trade-off and a difficult conversation to have.”
