New grower representative Director announced
I’m pleased to announce that Alex Huffadine will be joining the Summerfruit NZ Board following the AGM on 9 June 2021. We received one nomination for the director vacancy and, in the absence of other nominations, a vote is not required for his appointment. I’m pleased to have Alex joining the Board and bringing his experience and depth of knowledge of the industry.
For those of you who don't know our new Director, Alex and his family live in Cromwell, and farm 1,500ha of hill country with 5ha of cherries. Alex began fruit growing in 1986 at Clyde, after graduating from Otago University. Since then, Alex worked for what was then MAF as an export fruit auditor and researcher, he then moved on to Otago Polytechnic where he has been for 30 years as a horticulture lecturer and Head of School for the Central Otago campus.
Recently, Alex moved into private horticulture consultancy and has just finished nine years as a Trustee with the Central Lakes Trust. Alex is thrilled to be given the opportunity to represent growers on the Summerfruit NZ Board, and hopes that his education background is of value to the industry.
Update on the movement of RSE workers from the Pacific, and visa extensions
You’ll likely be aware that on Monday, 10 May, the Government announced that MIQ will be opening up to 300 RSE workers every month from June onwards, with a total of 2,400 planned to arrive by March 2022. The horticulture industry coalition group – with CEs from NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, NZ Apples & Pears, Summerfruit NZ, NZ Winegrowers, NZ Ethical Employers and HortNZ – welcomed the announcement in a media release here.
There were aspects that we had negotiated with the Government on, relating to the cost to growers and employers of bringing these RSE workers into New Zealand. These new RSE workers will start to arrive in July and August, and RSE employers have been contacted about this. More details will be coming soon about flights arriving in September onwards.
We’ve also been talking to Immigration NZ and Minister Faafoi about the extension of visas for those RSE workers, and backpackers, who are in the country at the moment and wish to stay. This requires legislation change, and there is a Bill currently going through the House on this issue. I will update you as soon as possible about progress on visa extensions.
Visits to growers
Since I began in the role of chief executive just over four weeks ago (and it feels longer ago than that!), I’ve been focusing on getting to know the team, the Board, our key stakeholders from industry and government. I’ve also been to Central Otago and Hawke's Bay to visit some growers and meet with researchers at Plant & Food Research. I look forward to meeting many more of you at our conference in June. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have issues you want to bring to my attention or discuss.