The fruit bowl of New Zealand is shrinking as Hawke’s Bay orchards continue to feel the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle.
The region is nearing the second anniversary of the storm, which was one of Aotearoa’s worst, killing 11 people and causing billions of dollars of damage.
Millions of tonnes of silt were dumped across Hawke’s Bay, smothering crops and resulting in more than 600 hectares of fruit trees being ripped out.
Apple grower Paul Paynter lost more than 180,000 trees and told RNZ that many were still dying.
He said recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle had been hard.
“It’s like a negative Powerball win. It’s a loss of about 20 per cent of production.
“It’s traumatic and you’re compromised so you can’t possibly turn a profit.
“It’s a long work out and a hard road. We’re managing our demise.”
Paynter is one of about nine apple growers who have accessed the Kanoa Loan Scheme, which helps them borrow more from the bank, with the Government guaranteeing 80% of the loan’s default risk.
But Paynter said it was not enough to save many small to medium fruit-growing businesses.
“The loan scheme allows people to replant and get green shoots growing, but some balance sheets are so bad people will have to exit the industry ultimately.
Paul Paynter's family have been growing apples for over 160 years. Photo / RNZ / Reece Baker
“The thing about farmers ... is when farmers don’t farm anymore, they don’t talk about it. People die quietly in the rural communities.
“They’re not whingers and they wander off into the sunset.”
He predicted more growers would leave the industry.
“Nobody who’s been significantly affected will survive in their current form.”
His voice wavered as he reflected on the past two years and what motivated him to try to keep the company afloat.
“It’s more desperate. It’s more important.
“We’ve got 360 full-time employees and you see them turn up, you know, with their kids in the back seat and you’ve gotta keep paying the wages because we’ve got lots of mouths to feed, lots of roofs to keep over our people’s heads.
“That money-go-around and keeping people employed is the most important thing.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said the Government had been supporting cyclone-hit growers and farmers.
“Following the major weather events in early 2023, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) provided support for urgent recovery efforts of affected farmers, growers and rural communities.
“The funding enabled affected farmers and growers to undertake urgent repair work, including fencing and clearing silt to save trees and vines.
“Along with significant other Government funding, Budget 2023 provided a further $35.4 million to continue to support the recovery of rural communities.”
The overhaul of the Resource Management Act would also help the sector, McClay said.
“We have listened to the sector and are moving swiftly to repeal unworkable rules and unnecessary regulation to free up farmers and growers to get on with producing food and fibre.”
