Call for fruit pickers answered at Pick the Bay employment expo
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst is adamant that no fruit will be “left on the tree” this season.
And judging by the turn out at the Pick the Bay Employment Expo, her wish, and that of the many orchards crying out for pickers, may very well come true.
The clock had barely turned to 4pm on Tuesday and already more than 200 people were inside Functions on Hastings at Toitoi – Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events Centre, with hundreds more snaked around the outside of the building waiting for a chance to get in.
Over the course of the three hour expo, it is understood about 500 people poured through the doors, all eager to find out more about job opportunities in the horticulture and viticulture industries.
Hastings District Council partnered with New Zealand Apples and Pears Inc, local government colleagues, MSD, MPI, MBIE, industry trainers and representative groups as well as 20-plus growers to hold the expo, to help support the sectors with the current shortage of workers for this harvest season.
The 33 stands at the event had information about summer work opportunities in the industry – from picking to forklift driving and working in the packhouse – to longer-term career opportunities.
Representatives from EIT also attended, giving people training advice, and information about pastoral care with He Poutama Rangatahi providers.
Due to Covid-19, Hawke’s Bay growers are facing their most challenging season, with about 10,000 workers needed between now and April for thinning, picking, packing, and processing the region’s produce.
The pandemic and subsequent border restrictions have devastated New Zealand's seasonal workforce with very few Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers and backpackers left in the country.
Rainbow Fruit Ltd owners Steve and Liz Davis said the expo provided a “fabulous opportunity” for them to market their small family business to potential staff, alongside the bigger names in the industry.
The current predicament has made them “unsettled” and “desperate for apple pickers” to get their crop off the trees.
The pandemic has meant they currently have six RSE workers, who they have had for a number of years, ready and waiting in Vanuatu, but unable to come for the season.
That is why they are trying every possible avenue to look for staff.
Unlike the larger organisations, they only require a core staff of 20. Liz said they “look after their team” and view them as “more than just a number” – something which has paid off, given a many “come back year on year”.
Freshmax operations manager, orchard division, Shane Flynn was manning a stand with an extra hook to get people’s attention – the chance to go in the draw to win a Magpies jersey.
He said with the pear crop being ready a bit earlier, Freshmax had already started employing people, but the expo provided another valuable opportunity to attract more.
“We’ve got a bit of momentum going, but the key will be to keep everyone on board and engaged.”
Mayor Hazlehurst said the number of people who attended showed the value of all the agencies working together to promote the industry to local workers.
“The response to the call for workers was outstanding and it shows that our community really wants to work in the horticulture and viticulture sectors.
“Some people will be starting work from today as a result of talking to growers there, and others will have learnt a lot more about the fantastic jobs and career pathways available to everyone in the community.”
Event attendees ranged in age from high school students to retirees, and Hazlehurst said local growers who were in need of reliable teams were keen to offer conditions that worked for everyone.
New Zealand Apples and Pears’ Gary Jones said that it was the biggest turn out he had ever seen for an industry event.
“In difficult times our community has shown real confidence in the plants industry and they see the opportunities it has to offer. There are hundreds of permanent and seasonal jobs on offer here in an industry and region that will continue to grow well into the future. That resilience is hard to find and we are so fortunate to have it here in Hawke’s Bay.
“This Employment Expo has given industry some confidence that it will meet its early labour needs, but concerns are still for harvest. We will need another Employment Expo pre-harvest as well.”
