Transport issues loom for fruit growers

The chief executive of HortNZ, Mike Chapman says engineers have inspected their building which is at the northern end of Featherston St, Wellington, and says there is only superficial damage and it will be safe for staff to work in it.

The rest of Featherston St where Federated Farmers and Beef+Lamb NZ are located remains closed due to fears of glass falling on to the street from broken windows and the added fear of high winds in the capital.

Chapman says the reports they have had so far from growers in areas affected by the quake suggest there has been no damage to glass houses.

He says the biggest issue facing the sector is the damage to transport infrastructure. Chapman says the problem is getting produce across Cook Strait and the state of the roading network from Picton to Christchurch. He says the HortNZ board will be meeting soon to work out how best to meet this challenge.

In a matter of weeks, stone fruit from Central Otago will be ready and Chapman says they may have to consider shipping this from Dunedin or Timaru to the North Island as SH1 from Christchurch to Picton will almost certainly be closed.

Ironically he says, the coastal shipping option may be cheaper than the normal road transport system