NZ growers lead freshwater compliance
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through its Growing Change project.
LABOUR'S JUST announced immigration policy will heavily penalise growing businesses say New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industry organisations.
Instead of paying overseas workers the same as local workers, this policy would require employers to pay overseas workers more than local workers, doing the same work.
The policy will also require New Zealand employers involved in the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme to pay for overseas workers' accommodation, rather than just arrange accommodation.
RSE employers are already required to prove there are no suitable local workers available to do the work before they are given approval to bring in limited numbers of workers from the Pacific.
"We just can't understand why those employers who find it difficult to find local employees should be further penalised.
"The horticulture and viticulture industries are continuing to grow despite the high NZ dollar and in the face of strong competition globally. We need more people. And we can't get them all in New Zealand," says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock.
Our industries are growing, creating permanent and seasonal jobs for locals, but there are simply not enough suitable New Zealand workers available to meet the peak seasonal work requirements, he says.
"This is not a well thought out policy. Pricing immigrant labour higher than local labour just does not make sense.
"We are not sure what has driven this change, because we know workers from the Pacific and their governments have been very happy with the scheme," Silcock says.
It allows returning workers to contribute to many community projects and has increased the skills of the workers, for the benefit of the workers, their families and their communities.
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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