At the end of last year, kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty were hit by severe frost, leading to a 25% decrease in production. In 2022 there were 180,000 trays of kiwifruit produced compared to this year’s estimate of only 140,000. Despite this decrease there are a lot of vacancies for employment still available.
This means that in the region, the kiwifruit industry has 4,000 jobs up for grabs and the Ministry of Social Development is on a recruitment drive to get the workers they need. Seeka Tauranga Māori Business Poumatua Māori head Neil Te Kani said: “Forklifts, chefs, pickers, packers, everything you can imagine within the kiwifruit industry is available, so come on.”
In Greerton, Tauranga, a community outreach pop-up center for employing kiwifruit workers was in action. It is the first recruitment of its kind for the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry. The ministry’s Jacob Tapiata was at the centre and was taken by the 2100 people available to work and $40 an hour on offer.
Kiwifruit picking will start next week in orchards around the Bay of Plenty.
Source: teaomaori.news
Photo source: Facebook.com