Housing hinders picker numbers

More than 2600 people came off their benefits to do seasonal work over the summer, and just a fraction of them took up incentives offered by a government work scheme.

Figures released by the Ministry of Social Development show that 2631 people came off a benefit to go into seasonal work between November 15 and February 28.

As of last week, just 195 of those had started work through the Seasonal Workers Scheme which offered up to $200 a week towards accommodation costs and a $1000 incentive payment for workers who completed jobs of six weeks or longer.

The number of people coming off benefits to take up seasonal work had certainly provided relief to the industry, said Yummy Fruit Company general manager Paul Paynter, who is based in Hawke’s Bay.

‘‘I’d say a few hundred of those would have come off the benefit in Hawke’s Bay,’’ he said.

Paynter said the Seasonal Workers Scheme had made a modest difference ‘‘but certainly hasn’t been a solution’’.

He said the biggest hindrance to finding pickers in Hawke’s Bay had been a lack of housing.

‘‘It’s really held people back. I’ve had conversations with many about the poor quality of accommodation, or the fact they can’t get accommodation at all,’’ Paynter said.

‘‘I think we’d have had the crop picked if there wasn’t an accommodation crisis.’’

Nick Bibby, business manager of horticultural contracting company Thornhill, said the business had employed several people who

Nick Bibby Horticultural contractor

had been on a benefit, but there weren’t enough to cover demand.

‘‘It’s pretty dire for some orchards. I’ve had some desperate calls. I had one from a guy who’d been expecting 20 pickers but only two showed up. He was in tears. There are a lot of stories like that,’’ he said.

The ministry’s acting group manager employment Hugh Miller said the number of people leaving a benefit to take up seasonal work was probably underestimated as not all were coded the same way.

The number of people taking up the scheme was ‘‘running slightly lower than expected’’ but ‘‘as we’ve yet to enter seasonal peaks in Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Nelson/Marlborough we expect the number of participants to rise.’’ he said.

‘‘He’d been expecting 20 pickers but only two showed up. He was in tears.’’