Travel bubble - orchardists plead with Govt for Pacific Island bubble. The region's orchardists, exporters and growers reliant on seasonal work say they've worked through the season with "anxiety and desperation beyond belief". Thousands of tonnes of fruit is now being left on trees in Hawke's Bay. The labour shortage remains despite 2631 people moving off benefits into seasonal work nationwide between November 15, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Craig Hickson, owner of Progressive Meats, said the labour shortage in the picking industry has taken its toll on other sectors.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 06, 2021 21:29 UTC