Many growers still need support a year on from Gabrielle: Horticulture NZ

What’s left of a kiwifruit orchard in Puketapu, Hawke’s Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle tore through last year. Horticulture NZ has made a plea to Government to continue to support growers in Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and other places hit hard by the cyclone as the one-year anniversary approaches. Picture by Warren Buckland, Hawke’s Bay Today

Don’t forget growers in Tairawhiti, Hawke’s Bay and other places hit hard by cyclone near the one-year anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle,” is the plea from Horticulture New Zealand.

The organisation has called for a renewed effort to support East Coast growers still recovering from the cyclone’s devastation.

It wreaked havoc on growing areas across Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti, Northland, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa and northern Manawatū last February. Many growers are still rebuilding their businesses.

“We must not forget those still working to recover and focus on building resilience to such extreme weather events,” said Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley.

“For many growers, the rebuild and renewal process will take many years and the investment required to enable these regions to once again thrive will be massive.”

HortNZ is encouraging the Government to press ahead with its 100-day plan including meeting councils and communities to establish regional requirements for the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.

It also wants the Government to make good on its pledge to use additional Orders in Council to speed up cyclone and flood recovery efforts.

“The industry and the communities across these regions have made remarkable progress but more help is needed,” Ms Tunley said.

“Stakeholders across the sectors continue to work together to meet the immediate necessities and ensure the long-term recovery of affected areas.

“As the frequency and severity of adverse weather events increase, steps to mitigate or reduce damage have become even more crucial.”

The horticulture sector would also like to see changes to  policy settings, she said.

“This includes a whole-of-catchment approach to flood protection and water use.

“We want highly productive land protected for primary production and primary production prioritised on highly productive land.

“This approach would see more bush on hill country, fewer houses in flood-prone valleys, and more water storage throughout the catchment.”

Prioritising highly productive land for primary production required maintaining flexibility of land use and providing reliable access to water, supported by consenting time frames that enabled growers to invest in using and sharing water in the most efficient and sustainable ways, Ms Tunley said.

“All of these steps will further support the process of recovery and development of the industry in the most severely affected areas.

“The level of indebtedness means the East Coast region has a huge mountain to climb.

“We may also face another significant economic or geopolitical shock in the next decade.

“That means some innovative solutions are needed.

“Some growers have told me they would like the government to put in place a model that engages the private sector through targeted incentives.

“This could include easing of overseas investment rules for investment in affected businesses, the ability to retain tax losses on all restructuring of affected businesses and tax write-offs on all cyclone-related capital purchases over five years. Nothing should be off the table.

“The horticulture sector plays a critical role for our country and our economy.

“It employs over 40,000 people and the benefits from growing operations flow out into the wider community in so many of our rural and often remote communities.

“On a national level, it makes a significant contribution to growing a prosperous and sustainable economy, exporting to 125 markets, while ensuring food security for New Zealanders.”