Labour shortage hits Marlborough wine industry
6 Apr, 2021 05:30 AM
5 minutes to read
Marlborough vineyards still require some 1200 new hires to have the 3700 workers needed through the months of winter pruning. Photo / File
Marlborough vineyards still require some 1200 new hires to have the 3700 workers needed through the months of winter pruning. Photo / File New Zealand s most valuable winemaking region is short roughly a third of its workforce heading into the labour intensive pruning season. Pruning will start imminently and Marlborough vineyards still require some 1200 new hires to make up the total 3700 workers needed through the winter months.
The figures, generated on April 1, come from NZ Ethical Employers (formerly Master Contractors), an industry group for labour contractors in horticulture and winemaking. Labour contractors supply more than 95 per cent of Marlborough pruning hands.