Intense time for all

August is proving to be another intense month for our industry.

Wet weather has continued to affect vegetable production across the country while the Nelson region declared a State of Emergency until the end of August. Fruit as well as vegetable growers have been affected, with orchards and vegetable paddocks turning into rivers. HortNZ and product groups will continue to monitor the situation and offer support. The Government is also offering assistance. 

Many of you will have watched the Sunday programme on the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme or heard or read other negative media about the scheme. We are focused on correcting this negative perception and working with the Government to improve the scheme they administer and manage. 

The Government is under immense pressure because of the labour shortage across New Zealand and deepening social issues. That is perhaps why on the one hand, the Government is relaxing immigration settings and publicly offering support for the RSE scheme while on the other hand, the Government is reviewing the scheme and involving unions. 

The RSE scheme is a government run scheme and the Immigration Minister is the decision maker. As an industry, we will continue to engage with the Government, to give growers as much certainty as possible and to ensure that the scheme continues to deliver for the nine different Pacific nations that are part of the scheme, keeping in mind that each nation’s needs are different.

As an industry, we need to be united and clearly articulate what we need as well as the behaviours we expect of each other as employers in the scheme. I have been really disappointed to see how quickly people look to apportion blame. If there was ever a time that we need to work together and take responsibility, it is now.

There is only one RSE scheme. It is challenging enough when the media and misinformed critics lump together all labour programmes (including the Australian Pacific Australia Labour Mobility programme - PALM) to support their points of view when the RSE scheme is quite different. 

To break up, become disjointed or start to finger point would do nothing to maintain our social licence. The significant majority of you do a good to excellent job within the RSE scheme. If you are concerned about how others may be performing, let your product groups know and we will assist. The RSE programme is yours collectively to protect.

I know that growers are under immense pressure and it is coming from all quarters, least of all the weather. But I firmly believe we must stick together, continue to promote what’s great and important about our industry and deal firmly with those – no matter how small in number – that threaten our social licence, at a time when we need it the most.