Time to flip the levy-payer industry-good body model
OPINION: Industry good organisations have long played a key role in supporting New Zealand’s primary industries.
Former Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman says labour shortages and an avalanche of government-sponsored regulations are crippling the sector.
"If you can't have labour, you can't grow. If you can't grow, you cannot comply," Chapman told Hort News. "That is the real nexus and you must have every ingredient in place to make it work."
He says the Government is keen on horticulture growing but the key is getting enough seasonal workers into the country.
Chapman, who stepped down after five years in the role, was honoured at last month's Hort NZ conference in Hamilton with the Bledisloe Cup in recognition of his services to the industry.
He was also honoured by the Chinese Growers Association, Pukekohe, for his services to the group. Chapman says receiving the awards was incredibly humbling and really unexpected.
"You do the best job you can and don't expect any of this recognition other than knowing that you have done a great job," he says. "But the industry recognising that is incredibly special, and the Chinese growers' award, receiving that was unbelievable as well.
"It's a special recognition from a group of growers who are really important and a core part of the industry."
Chapman's career in the horticulture industry has spanned more than 20 years.
Swapping his legal-focused work for kiwifruit, he took up the role of Kiwifruit New Zealand chief executive in 2002 and then in 2005 became NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief executive. Ten years later he picked up the reins as Horticulture NZ chief executive, a position he held until June this year.
The Bledisloe Cup for horticulture was first presented in 1931 by the then Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, for a competition between orchardists for the best exhibit of New Zealand apples at the Imperial Fruit Show.
It is one of several cups Lord Bledisloe presented to New Zealand and is similar to rugby's Bledisloe Cup, which was also donated in 1931.
HortNZ president Barry O'Neil says Chapman's advocacy for the horticultural industry has been untiring, forceful, and balanced.
Despite retiring from HortNZ, Chapman remains involved with the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. Chapman says the RSE scheme is critical to the sector and he's happy to continue working on behalf of growers.
"I have a track record working with government officials on the scheme."
He was instrumental in the Government's decision in early August to permit RSE workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, to enter New Zealand without the need for managed isolation.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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