During my time as a Hort consultant and then later in the R&D space I was advised to stop look and listen. The listen bit was for machinery that might run me over. That stop and look is something that I have tried to do even in jobs that are more desk based.
The recent offer to do just this on cyclone affected blocks, with the help of a hort professional from AgFirst or Fruition for free seemed to be a very generous offer. As growers we tend to put heads down and get on with it when the big picture needs a bit of time as well. For those who are able to recover from Gabrielle’s visit the systemic weakness in the system may well be talking to you. I’ve seen shelter species that are dying from what could be wet feet with the neighbouring tree of a different species looking fine. There are fruit varieties that are more susceptible than others and certainly age-related and rootstock responses. Trees that were already in trouble due to the wet growing season have now been finished off. This could well be a good thing. These are the beginnings of decision making such as ‘this old block of apricots with dying trees should now come out completely’. It will make recovering from the silt overlay easier as bigger machinery can be used.
Looking at blocks as you drive or ride past, I’m seeing that those that have had good inputs over time are in better nick than those that haven’t. Maybe its imagination, maybe its observation. And now that I’m looking a little closer there are number of small stone fruit blocks that I suspect are not in the Summerfruit system. That’s fine until something happens, be it a cyclone or a biosecurity incursion when we all need to hang tough together. If this event has highlighted anything it’s that working together, all the parts of all our industries, we are more likely to get stuff done. Now would be a good time to connect or reconnect with the Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association who are doing some very good work.
Getting stuff done in this post Gabrielle environment for affected growers is painfully slow. Whether its contactors, Councils or Central Government we are all waiting for the next announcement to proceed. For some of us oldies this waiting might be too much. I suspect there will be some who say enough, I’m out, which would be a reasonable response. It’s heartening to watch the smart young, Brittany’s, Kurt’s and Jack’s (see Orchardist April 2023), the Young Grower contestants, all the orchard apprentices get involved in decision making.
Is this the right time to take a step back and encourage the next generation with new ideas to have the loud voice. They may well take the opportunity anyway.
It’s always about the people. The old connections renewed, and the new connections made that help make this game worthwhile. There will be some good outcomes following Gabrielle, even if we cannot yet see them.
Kia kaha.
Richard Mills
Summerfruit Technical Advisor
021 632559
It’s almost a year since I last reported that the region had below normal rainfall for the month, so it’s a real novelty and, let’s face it, a relief to say March rainfall was well below normal – about 60% of the long-term average. Totals on the Ruataniwha Plains and the region’s south coast were particularly low, both receiving less than half of usual March rainfall, while the Heretaunga Plains had roughly three quarters. It allowed soil moisture levels and river flows to ease a little but they remain very high for early autumn. Groundwater levels continue to break records for the time of year.
Air temperatures, both daytime and overnight, were near normal during March. Soil temperatures on the Ruataniwha and Heretaunga Plains finished the month in the mid-teens and about 12⁰C in the ranges.
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is in neutral mode but El Niño conditions could develop by the end of winter. Chances are that we’ll also have a positive Indian Ocean Dipole. Both raise the potential for drier than normal weather and a big change to the weather we’ve had for the past so many months. Already the seasonal forecast models are hinting at a change in the sea level pressure pattern. Higher than normal pressure is expected to the west of the country and lower than normal to the northeast, which may give winds a southerly tilt. However, with warm seas around us, temperatures are expected to stay near or above normal over the next three months. Rainfall too might hover near normal but forecasts that extend beyond three months suggest drier weather is to come.
Percentage of Normal Rainfall
Dr Kathleen Kozyniak
Principal Scientist Air
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Tēnā koutou,
EIT is moving into its recovery stage, and we are now organised for classes that start back on 4th May. The majority of theory classes for Level 3 and 4 fruit production will be at Hastings Learning Centre at 416 Heretaunga Street West. We have some practical classes later in the year that will be held at Fish and Game in Jervoistown. The Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (CPIOS) courses will be held in Twyford,
EIT still has several technical issues to work through, as well as missing a lot of staff, so please bear with us, as we try and get systems back operating well.
Students will receive text notifications at the start of class week which includes classroom information. We have two cohorts for Level 3 Fruit production this year which will allow a bit of flexibility for students to catch up if they miss any class. I have contacted all managers that have more than one student in a year to discuss whether you wish them to attend together or be in different groups – this can always change as the year progresses if required.
Class starts back on 4th May for Level 4 students to finish the compliance course, and there is a tutorial that evening where we hope to see everyone. We are still taking new students for CPIOS which starts on 9th May, so if you have identified any workers you wish to get into training, there is still time. Like last year, we will run another intake starting August if there is demand, but prefer to get as much training done before spray season.
Noho ora mai
Clare
Over two months on from the destruction brought by Cyclone Gabrielle and the clean-up continues for many of you.
On the road to recovery, discouragement can become your biggest enemy. It’s usually brought on by sheer exhaustion, frustration, and unrealistic expectations. Exhaustion from clearing silt day-in-day-out with tunnelled focus on the doing. Frustration at the enormous task at hand and how progress appears to be much slower than your expectations. Help wade off discouragement by taking some time out for yourself. Step back, take a break, and breathe. Lower your expectations by looking at the bigger picture and know you are making progress, with an entire industry in your corner.
The Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association have kindly subsidised up to $700 (incl. GST) per grower for consultancy services, including the assessment of blocks and technical advice to inform and support the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
There are a lot of big decisions still to be made, and our whole team is here to support you with those. Some of the things we can help with include:
Please reach out to any of the consultants here with any curly questions you may have. We are here to help.
This course is suitable for people directly impacted by the events of Cyclone Gabrielle. Completing this course will help you:
Understand the impacts on people after the event, be aware of response in recovery, learn about Dr Rob Gordon’s “Four processes of recovery” and be reminded of how to look after yourself.
For more information and to register please click here: Recovery Matters training Hastings
A new all-of-government factsheet has been released that covers:
– Government funding available and how to access it
– Contact details for sector
– Waste removal including silt, posts/wire and wood waste
– Mental health support
Click the following link to access the full document – 2023 Recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay FS (17 MARCH)
Kia ora koutou,
The devastation wreaked by Cyclone Gabrielle has been shocking. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes, crops, livelihoods, health and loved ones, this has shaken us all.
The EIT campus was flooded, and this has caused us a myriad of problems. We have been in at campus for two weeks sweeping silt/sludge to be able to lift the carpets. Builders are now in removing gib and drying it out, and have shut down access. It is unlikely that we will be able to work from Taradale until July at the earliest. The important news is that we will be continuing our programs as timetabled – but locations have yet to be finalised. Some classes will be in the Hastings Learning Centre – we will keep students updated by text. Please remind them to let us know if their number has changed. Our online platform, Moodle, is also down – if students need access to any course material just ask them to contact the tutor or myself directly.
Kia kaha, kia māia kia manawanui,
Clare B
We are now 5 weeks on from the destructive cyclone that changed the landscape of our industry in a moment but will impact us for years to come. I still haven’t gone and seen all the worst affected areas yet as I’ve been busy getting to grips with my own orchard damage and trying to harvest fruit.
I’ve been encouraged by the huge support our local community has provided, they have rallied around our industry and helped in so many ways. I’m aware of people pitching in to clean out flooded homes and garages, stand up fences, remove debris, scrape away silt from around tree trunks and remove river weed, slash and flood damaged fruit off trees. The task at hand is daunting but our community has helped us get started. I must also mention the groups of people who have been driving around distributing meals, food, and water – all your support is very much appreciated.
Our growers are banding together in a way I haven’t seen before – whether it be smaller growers, larger growers or corporates, the willingness to support one another is very special. This will help unite and strengthen our industry as we set a new vision for our industry to “Grow Back Better”.
In my capacity as President of HBFA, I’m involved with a Task Force that is developing and recommending a framework that government can adopt to inform the distribution of additional cyclone support. As you will appreciate this is a complex body of work, but I’m encouraged by the constructive, pragmatic and proactive approach that the Task Force is taking on behalf of all of us who have sustained damage from Cyclone Gabrielle.
The road ahead will be a long one, but it’ll be easier if you share the journey. I’d encourage all of you to keep talking to your neighbours, your friends and family. Don’t try and do it all on your own. I’d also remind you that The Association is only a phone call away – come to our events and stay connected.
Kia kaha,
Brydon Nisbet
HBFA President
I tried to draw a diagram the other day to capture the different organisations and agencies involved in our region’s recovery efforts. I nearly ran out of room on the A4 page I was using – there are so many moving parts (and acronyms).
One of the key roles for HBFA through this recovery process is to understand the issues our members are confronting and to advocate for you across all the different stakeholders on that crazy diagram. For us to be effective in representing you, we need you to share your information/issues/concerns – please don’t be afraid to contact me directly with anything you would like us to focus on (of if you’d just like to vent!).
Another key area for us will continue to be fostering a sense of community and wellbeing. As Brydon mentioned, the road ahead will be easier if you share the load. Over the coming weeks and months, we plan to organise a number of informal events to bring people together and encourage you all to get involved. We do however realise that social gatherings are not for everyone, and some people may prefer to reach out more directly for someone to chat to. If you or anyone you know is feeling overwhelmed and would like to speak to someone please don’t hesitate to contact the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 524. Please also remember that The Association has engaged Wanda Douglas to provide free and confidential psychological support to our members and their families. Wanda is a Registered Psychologist with the NZ Psychologists’ Board. She is based locally in Taradale and can be contacted on 021 1700 506.
We continue to pursue support for our Industry Recovery Fund which has now exceeded $100K thanks to generous contributions from across the industry and the general population. The fund is already financing our wellbeing initiatives and is also being used to support technical advice for impacted growers. If you have any questions about the fund and or its distribution, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Alongside financial support we have also received numerous messages of encouragement for those of you who have been impacted. You can read these here https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/our-growers-need-your-support.
Take care and keep in touch,
Dean
027 233 9900
With so many people across our horticultural community impacted by the Cyclone, our immediate focus needs to be on rebuilding businesses and livelihoods. For this reason, the HBFA committee has decided to postpone our 2023 YFOTY competition. We hope this gives businesses, growers and students some additional time to focus on the immediate issues at hand.
The committee did consider a cancellation of the 2023 event, however, there was unanimous agreement that it should proceed. It was noted that some of our young horticulturists are feeling uncertain about the future of their studies and their careers in our industry – we see the staging of the 2023 Young Fruit Grower of the Year as a way to address these concerns by sending a strong signal that the industry is getting back on its feet.
The new date for the event is the 10/11 August, and we look forward to working with our contestants, judges and sponsors to make it a big success.
It you have any questions about the event, please don’t hesitate to email marketing@hbfa.co.nz
