HBFA, Author at Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association - Page 20 of 51

I want to start off with a huge congratulations to Grace Rehu, who won the 2023 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower award that was presented earlier this month up in Tauranga. Grace works as a leading hand for T&G in Puketapu with sector manager Tom Dames. One of judges commented that Grace had clearly demonstrated the three values of the judging criteria: Manaakitanga – looking after others, Whānaungatanga – engagement, and Mana Motuhake – being authentic. Well done Grace we are very proud of your achievement.

A special mention also to Alix Te Kere (who was one 3 finalists for this award). Alix works for Rockit Global as their on-orchard H & S officer. Alix was also a runner-up at our own Young Fruit Grower in 2022.

Well done also to Ngāi Tukairangi Trust who were finalists in the Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori Horticulturist. As many of you will know, Ngāi Tukairangi have a large presence here in Hawke’s Bay where they grow both kiwifruit and apples. A big congratulations also to Wi Pere Trust in Tairāwhiti who took out this coveted trophy.

The sediment and debris fund is now up and running. Growers can apply for up to $210K ex. GST on a 50:50 basis – so a grower would need to spend or have incurred costs of $420k ex gst to claim the full amount on offer. Applications to this fund are proving to be quite complicated for many and HBFA are helping people where possible. The Association ran a Q&A webinar earlier in the month and we’ve also facilitated “drop-in centres” for growers to get in-person support with their applications. It should however be noted that we are not an official part of the application or evaluation process.

We are still waiting to hear from Government on “next steps” regarding funding, noting that nothing has yet been announced to assist with costs to re-plant or restore damaged growing systems. Many growers are frustrated on how long this is taking. I do know that there is a cohort of industry leaders working with Govt on devising a plan going forward and we are hopeful that we will hear something next week. I, like many growers need to make decisions on what the future holds for our businesses. With the biological timeline ticking along trees and orchards don’t wait and decisions need to be made on future plantings, ordering of trees and posts etc.

In the first week of August, the NZAPI, RSE and the Horticulture New Zealand conferences are running one-after-the-other (Mon 31st July – Friday 4th August). HBFA and The Evergreen Trust have contributed funds to help cyclone affected growers attend some or all the conferences. Grants of up to $2000 per person (max 2/entity) are available, so if you are an impacted grower, I encourage you to consider attending. For more information, please email info@applesandpears.nz

Finally, we have our annual HBFA Young Fruit Grower of the year competition coming up August 10th with the dinner event to be held on the 11th of August. Tickets to the event will be coming on sale very soon. We have 8 exceptional young fruit growers competing for this year’s prize. I encourage you to come along and get in behind our industry as we celebrate our up-and-coming young leaders in our industry. We will also be awarding HBFA’s Joe Bell Trophy for services to the industry – this was awarded to Leon Stallard in 2022 and will this year go to another extremely worthy winner.

Ngā mihi

Brydon Nisbet
HBFA President

Blueprint for learning, run a series of webinars that are currently available free of charge.

One of these courses is Rural MH101 which deals with developing confidence to recognise, relate and respond to people experiencing mental health challenges.

An in-person version of this course was recently attended by a cohort of local growers and packhouse staff who found the workshop extremely beneficial. If we can arrange for a minimum of 16 people to register, we can arrange for a repeat workshop here in Hawke’s Bay.

If you are interested in attending, please email shayna@temataexports.co.nz to express your interest prior to Friday 30 June 2023.

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Kia ora koutou,

It was a privilege to attend the Ahu Whenua Young Māori Grower of the year award last week in Tauranga, and amazing to see three bright young women, all orchardists, as finalists. Our hearty congratulations go to Grace Rehu, from TnG for winning this prestigious competition, and her managers and whanau who have supported her. Also congratulations to Ngai Tukairangi Trust for making the finals for grower of the year.

Our programs are all in full swing, but we will be running our year one (CPIOS course) again starting mid July, if there is demand. Some current students on this course will complete by the end of July and have the option of joining the year 2s for two courses and have a taste of the work ahead.

We have had a few students over the last year who have struggled at EIT as English is their second language. So we have been talking with our English teaching faculty and will be running a short course, English for orchard workers, starting mid July. This free course will be over 12 weeks, two hours a week, and have flexible learning according to what the group needs most. If you have any students you think would benefit from this please get in touch with Clare.

We have Growsafe and First Aid both running in July – there is a fee of $500 for both courses. If you wish your student to attend, please let Clare know.

The successful Post-harvest level 5 diploma will resume on the 27^th July at the Hastings campus. This year the focus is on quality management, Crop Physiology, and health and safety. Anyone part way through the program will need to re-enrol and anyone who wishes to join the program will need to contact Chris Thorman cthorman@eit.ac.nz

Noho ora mai,

Clare

Dr Lucy Hone, a globally recognised specialist in resilience will be presenting at two free community sessions on 12 July (CHB) and 13 July (Hastings).

Dr Hone is a director of the NZ Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience and offers profound insight on human suffering through her work following the Christchurch earthquake and her own unimaginable tragedy.

These ‘fireside chats’ will be hosted by our very own Toddy and will provide some genuinely helpful insights, with something to eat and drink provided.

Registrations are a must for catering purposes. Please follow the below link for more details.

Dr Lucy Hone – Central Hawke’s Bay and Hastings Event Flyer1

*Date: 16th June

May was enjoyably balmy and reasonably dry. The region had 70% of average May rainfall. Some areas, such as the Heretaunga and Ruataniwha Plains and southern Hawke’s Bay, didn’t see that much though, instead getting roughly 50% or less. It’s three months now of below normal rainfall for the Heretaunga Plains.

Most of May’s rain fell in the ranges, feeding the headwaters of our rivers and keeping flows during May near or above normal. Soil moisture levels remained high through the month and groundwater levels were mostly near or above average for the time of year. Air temperatures were a couple of degrees warmer than usual, helped by above average sea temperatures. Soil temperatures were also warm for May and finished the month on 12°C on the Plains and 11°C in the ranges.

If you haven’t heard, the El Niño, which was predicted to develop this winter, has materialised already and holds potential to be a strong event. A likely partner is a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, which typically suppresses rainfall over much of Australia and can similarly influence our region’s weather.

There is a reasonable chance June’s rainfall will be near or above average but July to September could swing the other way and be near or below normal. West or southwest winds could prevail thanks to higher than usual sea level pressure west of the country, which may in fact extend across us, and lower pressure to the east. Sea temperatures might peg back to near normal levels around our region and air temperatures too. The seasonal forecast models don’t unanimously agree that a run of dry weather is looming but the majority lean that way so it’s worth having a plan should that be the case.

Percentage of Normal Rainfall

Dr Kathleen Kozyniak
Principal Scientist Air
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

We are aware of a grower who has a significant quantity of Piqa® Boo® trees that are unable to be planted out as intended.

If you are looking for a supply of trees for planting this year, please email manager@hbfa.co.nz for more details.

Metris and HBRC are providing a weather outlook discussion with free breakfast provided by Metris.

Please see below for more information.

If you are seeking support with your application to the Sediment and Debris Recovery Fund, please head along to one of the below clinics which are being run on Tuesday 20th June.