M.I.A.
OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.
Overseas workers on their way to drive machinery and pick fruit could be affected by last week's decision to pause the release of MIQ rooms.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced last week that MIQ facilities which were used to accommodate returnees from overseas are now being used for community cases.
More facilities and more rooms will be needed as the outbreak unfolds.
"The Government has decided to extend the pause on the release and re-release of rooms for a short period until the situation becomes clearer," it says.
Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) expects 125 machinery operators to arrive in the country between now and December.
About 150 fruit pickers from selected Pacific countries are expected to start arriving every 16 fays from the end of this month.
MIQ rooms for these arrivals are booked under 'time sensitive travel allocation' approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
RCNZ chief executive Andrew Olsen told Rural News that the first cohort of arrivals, making up 65% of the total contingent, is expected within the next two months. The rest will arrive between November and December.
"I have spoken to MPI and they tell me there's no change to our arrangement."
Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Alan Pollard says the hort sector has MIQ rooms booked until November.
He says while some arrivals were deferred in recent weeks, planning for these flights and spaces continues.
In addition, the Government recently announced one way quarantine-free travel from Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga.
Pollard says planning is well advanced on putting in place the steps needed to make this happen.
"We were hopeful that these flights would commence in September, but realistically it is more likely to be in October," he adds.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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