Local focus: New Zealanders summoned to Kiwi duty

It’s that time of year when Bay of Plenty kiwi orchards call in more than 14,000 workers to help prepare the vines for the upcoming season.

“Plants are waking up after winter, coming out of their dormant period,” said Nikki Johnson, CEO of NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated.

“We are moving into the October-December period, which is our second largest peak for work requirements after the harvest period that will begin in March.”

But with borders closed to international visitors, this year will be a bit more challenging than most.

“We rely heavily on backpackers and people who work on vacations, usually around this time of year,” Johnson said.

“Clearly with Covid that situation is not a bit clear at the moment, so we are not entirely sure that we will have enough of those people and we are really interested in attracting New Zealanders and locals to the industry.

“It’s a good time of year to come and work in the orchards. It’s spring, the weather is good, it’s a good job, so we’d like to see some of those New Zealanders enter the industry now just to help us.”

While there are many jobs out there, New Zealanders don’t tend to seriously consider garden jobs.

“I suspect that people don’t really know what the job is about,” Johnson said.

“They come to the end of [their course] and they say ‘God, I didn’t realize there were so many different things that could be done with kiwis, and different jobs and different ways to contribute to the industry.’

“I think people really just need to learn about what we offer.”

For Loren Lilley, a local from Te Puke, working in kiwifruit is much more than a summer job.

“I was going to dedicate myself to the medical field, but in the end I decided that I liked the outdoors. I like what they do here, it is very interesting, so yes, I changed my mind.”

And there are health benefits to being outdoors and staying physical.

“Physically it’s a bit difficult for the first three days,” said Ruatoki’s Tawhai August.

“But once you get used to it, you get some benefit. I’m 16 years old, I make more friends who are twice my age, and I enjoy talking to older people because it relates to my grandfather.”

Tokoroa resident Brodie Lutz Ehrhardt said he enjoys the social element.

“The team here is bad, we all get along. The bad views coming in and out of work, everywhere, the whole atmosphere here.”

• If you are interested in gardening but don’t know where to start, the Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated website (www.NZKGI.org.nz) has resources to help you.

Carried out with funding from