Wednesday, 15 April 2020 09:35

Messaging confusing – butchers

Written by  Nigel Malthus
All butchers who want to implement contactless home deliveries can do so says Retail Meats New Zealand general manager, Pippa Hawkins. All butchers who want to implement contactless home deliveries can do so says Retail Meats New Zealand general manager, Pippa Hawkins.

All of the country’s small butchers can operate contactless home delivery services under the current COVID-19 lockdown rules.

That's the message from Retail Meats New Zealand general manager, Pippa Hawkins.

The relaxation of the rules, announced on April 7, still prohibits normal shop opening or click-and-collect services – but does allow online and phone orders for contactless home delivery.

Hawkins says there had been some mixed messaging about the changes, with the suggestion that only those butchers who already had home delivery systems in place pre-COVID could resume.

In fact, all butchers who want to implement contactless home deliveries could do so, she said.

“I think initially, potentially, there was a little bit of miscommunication around that.”

However, Hawkins was still waiting on official paperwork, and was working with MPI to ensure the MPI website reflected the true picture.

Butchers are also allowed to process carcasses for other outlets – such as supermarkets and food banks.

“They obviously have to make sure they are following all the strict Ministry of Health guidelines in terms of employees distancing, hygiene and all of the stuff that goes with that,” she told Rural News.

The changes followed pressure particularly from the pork industry, which agitated for relaxation because it fears animal welfare issues if pig farms have no outlet for their stock. Unlike beef and lamb, the pork industry has little established export capacity.

David Baines, chief executive of NZ Pork, said the decision to allow independent butchers to make home deliveries is a step forward, but falls short of a solution to resolve the animal welfare crisis in New Zealand’s pork sector.

“It remains to be seen whether the Government’s move will alleviate the surplus of pigs on-farm.

“For some butchers, it will not be financially viable to only operate on a home delivery basis and we will be closely monitoring the supply chain over the coming weeks to assess the impact,” said Baines.

“That’s why independent butchers, like dairies, should be allowed to open so long as they can take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Retail Meats NZ is a voluntary organisation representing about 110 of the country’s approximately 350 small retail butchers. It plans to survey its members at the end of this week to gauge just how the lockdown has affected the sector.

“I know some people have decided to keep their doors shut throughout,” said Hawkins.

She hoped a truer picture could emerge, by conducting the survey after the first phase of the lockdown.

“Obviously the first two weeks were just full of negativity, of them being told ‘no, no, no’ and now we thought we would give them a bit of time to get up and running with online services, before we go out there and canvass them.”

More like this

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.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

Every exhibitor with something valuable to offer for farmers

OPINION: Welcome to the second annual NZ Dairy Expo at Matamata – an event created to bring together the best of the New Zealand dairy industry in a focused, grassroots environment where dairy farmers and rural professionals can meet, talk, compare products, and make smart decisions for their farms.

Featured

$2b boost in NZ exports to EU

New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

US tariffs hit European ag machinery markets

The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.

Tributes paid to Jim Bolger

Dignitaries from  all walks of life – the governor general,  politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and  friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter