Two years following Cyclone Gabrielle's impact on New Zealand's North Island, recovery efforts show varied progress across affected regions. In Gisborne, kiwifruit grower Tim Tietjen reports an 'average' season, marking a shift after challenging years. Tietjen cultivates SunGold, SunGold organic, and Ruby Red varieties on Bruno or Bounty rootstock. He notes, "The plants with Bruno rootstock were really impacted last year and we ended up having half the orchard drooping and looking quite sad."
He further explains, "We lost 20% of our plants, they did not fire last spring and a further 30% are still struggling, and we are looking at full replacement for this winter." Tietjen highlights the resilience of Bounty rootstock, particularly for his organic SunGold crop. The focus remains on cost minimization and self-reliance, with no immediate alternatives to kiwifruit cultivation.
In Hawke's Bay, the apple industry initially faced a projected 25% land loss post-Gabrielle. NZ Apples and Pears CEO Karen Morrish clarifies, "The floods themselves saw 610ha lost, but we also had new plantings in just prior to Gabrielle that was only just maturing, so it was not a 'like for like' loss." New orchards are emerging in areas like Puketapu and Dartmoor, though financing challenges persist. Morrish notes, "Financing new orchards is a showstopper here. To do it properly involves a lot of debt and not everyone has the ability or appetite to take it on." Despite these challenges, the apple sector anticipates surpassing $1 billion in orchard gate revenue, with a 10% increase in export yield.
In the Gisborne-Wairoa region, pastoral farmers face ongoing repair needs. Fed Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams addresses land slumps and slips requiring fence repairs. Contrastingly, Hawke's Bay's landslips show slower remediation. Government funding supports the Land for Life program to aid Hawke's Bay farmers in adapting to climatic changes. Wairoa mayor and farmer Craig Little expresses concerns over diminished government support and ongoing farm access issues. However, higher commodity prices have provided some relief. Little acknowledges the $70 million allocated for Wairoa's flood protection, emphasizing the need for a plan by March to secure funding.
Source: Farmers Weekly