The government has said that the grape and wine industry can continue to operate as an essential business, but strict conditions apply as the country moves to contain the spread of Covid-19.
New Zealand Wine Growers chief executive Phillip Gregan said the industry, now at peak harvest, was working around the clock to ensure harvest workers complied with tough new health and safety rules.
"The first requirement from the government is to stop the spread of the virus, so all our growers and wineries are making changes in their business operations to make sure that directive is met,” explained Gregan.
Industry members had been advised to take a strict precautionary approach, and to isolate workers so they were not contributing to the spread of the virus.
Gregan said the industry was coping with the same complications afflicting other primary sectors which used seasonal workers who needed to be housed, especially in shared accommodation.
“We've been talking with the Ministry for Primary Industries, everybody is working as hard as they possibly can to make sure that we get it right.”
Under government guidelines all parts of the wine industry’s supply chain could continue to operate during the Level 4 lockdown as essential businesses. It had been made clear to grape growers, however, that if they could not follow the rules then they would have to shut down.
Warmer weather was welcomed by the wine industry as harvest approached.
Marlborough Vintners viticulturist Nick Winter said it was shaping up to be a very good vintage, with yields looking about average. There was a total of 413,000 tonnes of grapes harvested in the 2019 season which was smaller than first thought, however the quality was described as exceptional.
