Hort NZ

Horticulture New Zealand says the findings of a Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) survey of the horticulture sector confirm that horticulture can fully support New Zealand’s post-Covid recovery. Read the full story here.

New Zealand horticulture, as part of that country’s primary production sector, has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s endorsement of the plan the industry developed to reduce climate change. Read the full story here.

The number of temporary visas for foreign seasonal workers will increase by just over 3000 in the next two years. Read the full story here.

HortNZ says the industry is getting on the front foot to try to address the skilled job shortage in the country’s horticulture sector, following the launch of the Food and Fibre Skills Action Plan in October. Read the full story here.

According to Mike Chapman @ Hort NZ, the number of learners studying agriculture and horticulture has dropped from 67,362 in 2013 to 45,557 in 2018. Read Mike’s latest blog here.

‘If industries such as horticulture are to respond to challenges such as climate change and shifts in consumer preference, vocational education must be industry-led, better-coordinated and future-focused,’ says HortNZ Chief Executive, Mike Chapman. Read the Hort NZ media release here.

HortNZ is calling on the Government to seize the opportunity to radically reform our country’s Vocational Education sector so it will pull more people into adopting a work-ready mentality at an earlier age. Read the full story here.

MPI’s deadline to register for the Food Act is 28 February, 2019. If you are NOT registered for Food Act by this date, but are still trading, your business will be operating illegally. Both NZGAP and GLOBALG.A.P. offer a pathway for growers that fit under National Programme 1 to be Food Act registered and audited through the existing certification programme. To ensure