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Changes in seasonal work visas have given kiwi growers a lifeline to cope with labor shortages, but wineries may still miss out on this opportunity.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced on Tuesday that a supplemental seasonal employment visa will automatically be granted to some 11,000 New Zealand work and holiday visa holders to help fill labor shortages in New Zealand industries. horticulture and wine cultivation.
It will apply to those with visas that expire between November 1 and March 31, and will extend their visas until June 30.
Scott Hammond / Stuff
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced changes to immigration policy to make the seasonal work visa available to more people.
“While unemployment is increasing due to the [Covid-19] interruption of the pandemic, much of this is happening in urban centers away from seasonal work, “Faafoi said.
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“Without these visa changes, there will not be enough people in the right places to ensure that the fruit and produce are harvested in time to ensure that the benefits of the economic recovery that are flowing protect other New Zealand jobs.”
The changes were only for the 2020-21 season, he said.
Derek Flynn / Stuff
New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan says the industry is still working to fill the labor shortage at the wineries.
New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan said it was a “positive step”, but the industry was concerned it would not apply to people who work in wineries.
“It doesn’t make sense to have all the work in the vineyard, if we can’t complete the work in the winery as well.”
Summerfruit NZ CEO Richard Palmer said the changes were welcome, but it was not yet known if they would be enough to prevent the impending workforce crisis.
“It goes somehow, but there is uncertainty about how many there are and what the demands will be across the country. It is an important part of the labor puzzle … Getting them to enter the regions will be part of the challenge we have to work on ”.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said an initiative had been launched in Otago to connect growers with potential workers.
Jo McKenzie-McLean / Stuff
Otago Central District Mayor Tim Cadogan says an event taking place next month will connect growers with potential workers.
A mayoral task force would hold a “Jobbortunities” event in Queenstown in October for growers to match up with unemployed kiwis and migrant workers.
“It’s essentially speed dating for jobs. People really support it and we expect a significant number of growers to look for workers. “
Horticulture NZ CEO Mike Chapman said the visa changes recognized that horticulture was important to the New Zealand economy.
“It’s also great for people stranded in New Zealand to give them the ability to keep working and help with the harvest.”
Horticulture NZ was working with the government and growers on other solutions, including bringing in workers from Covid-free countries.
“It all depends on how many are stranded and how many take advantage of this, how many kiwis we can get in and if we lack what we can do next. That’s why we like the idea of Covid-free countries. “
BRADEN FASTIER / Things
Horticulture NZ CEO Mike Chapman says sourcing workers from Covid-free countries is a good idea.
Wine Marlborough CEO Marcus Pickens said the announcement was “encouraging” but that the focus on viticulture meant it was only “half the answer.”
“We also have a responsibility to meet the needs of our wine companies,” he said.
“There is no point growing the grapes unless you can make the wine.”
Pickens said the wineries believed they could survive using fewer foreign workers than normal, but needed a core group to lead, train and supervise the new recruits.
“It would be a very scary proposition to have 100 percent new workers, who have never set foot in a warehouse.”
Since 80 percent of New Zealand’s wine production occurred in Marlborough, it was vital to the region’s economy as well as New Zealand’s, Pickens said.
