Maintaining growers’ social licence

August was an intense month for our industry.

Wet weather continued to affect vegetable production across the country, particularly the Nelson region which declared a State of Emergency until the end of August. Fruit as well as vegetable growers were affected, with orchards turning into rivers.

Many of you will have also seen the media turn its attention to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, with a series of negative stories culminating in a feature on the TVNZ Sunday programme. 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. 

Growers are passionate people, proud of what they do to feed New Zealanders and the world nutritious, great tasting food. However, being able to grow – use land and water, and have access to a workforce – is increasingly seen as a privilege. 

As an industry, we talk about maintaining social licence – that is, maintaining our ability to grow by having the support of New Zealanders and the government to plant, pick, pack and promote. 

If we were to lose our social licence, growing in this country would become a lot more challenging than it ready is. Society’s requirements are ever changing as new generations come through and the attitudes of older generations change in response to what they see happening in New Zealand and the world. 

The saying, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, is often referred to as the ‘Golden Rule’ and has considerable currency in today’s society.

While as an industry we can show that 98 percent of RSE growers are good employees, one bad employer is one too many, and not just in today’s environment. One bad employer is one too many, full stop. As an industry, we must come together and make that known. 

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. Remember, the RSE programme is yours collectively to protect.

Government as decision maker

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.

I believe that as an industry, we need to be united and clearly articulate what we need, as well as the behaviours we expect of employers in the scheme. To break up and become disjointed or start to finger point would do nothing to maintain our social licence. Indeed, I believe not acting in unison would be highly damaging to growers’ social licence. 

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 industry’s social licence at a time when we need it the most.