Podcasts Other The Mike Hosking Breakfast Sandra Hazlehurst: Hundreds in Hawke's Bay come off benefits to pick apples

Sandra Hazlehurst: Hundreds in Hawke's Bay come off benefits to pick apples

Published: Feb. 10, 2021, 10:51 p.m.

Roughly 300 people have come off benefits in a week in Hawke's Bay in a bid to seek out a decent pay packet during the apple picking season.
Growers still say they don't believe every apple on the region's bulging trees will be picked between February and May, but Wednesday's Pick the Bay employment expo in Hastings showed glimmers of hope.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst told Mike Hosking they have pulled the community together.
"There is lots of works available in Hastings, with a very good pay rate as well.
"People are responding to the labour shortage, and we will pay people accordingly."
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