Cyclone sets Hawke’s Bay horticulture back by nearly $1.5bn

The cost to horticulture of Cyclone Gabrielle in the Hawke’s Bay has been estimated to be nearly $1.5bn.

This is the figure growers were given at an all of horticulture meeting set up by industry groups that was held in Hastings last Thursday (20 April).

About 160 growers and others with an interest in the industry attended the meeting. The nearly $1.5bn figure is an early estimate, which includes lost production in 2023, the cost of the clean up and damage repair, the re-establishment of horticulture, and lost production in future years.

Direct economic loss to the industry in 2023 is estimated to be about $500m. The cyclone struck at a time when the industry was looking to get back to the 9 percent annual growth figure, which it enjoyed pre-Covid. 

Hastings District Council Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst told the meeting that it was ‘hard to talk about opportunity when people are hurting and grieving, and working in silt’. But said she was focused on helping the industry to ‘Build Back Better’ and ‘rebuild an industry we can all be proud of’. 

HortNZ President, Barry O’Neil, who chaired the meeting, said ‘further delays [by the Government] were totally unacceptable.

‘No one is taking leadership to ensure decisions are made in a timely manner, and growers are rightfully running out of patience.’ 

The Hawke’s Bay Growers Taskforce has asked the Government for $700-$750m in assistance, with a proposed recovery package which has three key ‘buckets’: cleanup, re-instatement, and re-establishment over the next three years.

Taskforce Coordinator, Gus Charteris said ‘if you listen closely, you can almost hear the churn in Wellington as the Government works through all this.’ 

Other presenters provided growers with advice on the recovery, including soil health and actions that can be taken to start preparing for next season. Regional Government representatives outlined moves to deal with the silt and other debris. A decision on the burning of waste is due in the next couple of weeks. 

Growers were also talked through the importance of looking after themselves when they and their families and colleagues are under so much stress and uncertainty. Noted was the support that is available and subsidised for anyone wishing to access it.

Barry O’Neil closed the meeting by saying ‘working together as a community will help the industry get through, one step at a time’. 

A similar meeting will be held in late May, by which time it is expected there will have been more direction and financial assistance from the Government.