Craig Foss MP
National Party Associate Agriculture Spokesman

06 March 2007

Employment shortage rotten news

News that Hawke's Bay fruit growers are facing the worst employment shortage in years is of little surprise to National's Horticulture spokesman, Craig Foss.

Over 7,000 seasonal workers, 1,900 more than last year, are required to harvest the Hawke's Bay crop during this year's peak season.

Nationally, labour shortages in the year ending October 2006 cost New Zealand's horticulture industry in excess of $30 million.

"Now we have a situation in Hawke's Bay where fruit is rotting on trees, while fruit growers cry out for workers.

"Clearly, any strategies put in place to attract workers to the region have been seriously lacking.

"The shortage has come as no surprise to growers, contractors or even Pipfruit NZ. What was a surprise was the time it took for Work and Income to declare a seasonal labour shortage.

"Now the industry is paying the price for Labour Government's bureaucracy.

"It appears growers are still going to have to wait for the day when Government policy is focused on getting Hawke's Bay's flagship crop harvested and sold at the best time."

ENDS

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