Work to tally the damage in Motueka is underway in the wake of a devastating hailstorm
Work to tally the damage in Motueka is underway in the wake of a devastating hailstorm 28 December 2020
The Boxing Day storm shredded leaves and significantly damaged kiwifruit and apples at Heywood Orchards.
Heywood Orchards Evan Heywood says insurance is capped at a tray amount and a quantum amount.
He says if there s hail strikes in the Bay of Plenty where the majority of the kiwifruits is grown, then the money that s available to growers is diluted.
Heywood says even with the hail strikes in the Tasman region - it s not going to go far.
Fruit growers in Motueka are counting the cost of Boxing Day s massive hailstorm
Fruit growers in Motueka are counting the cost of Boxing Day s massive hailstorm 28 December 2020
Heywood Orchards grows golden kiwifruit and apples.
Evan Heywood says the storm was the worst he s seen - and it shredded the leaves and significantly knocked around the fruit.
He says you can t just walk away from the damaged fruit either, you ve still got to get it off the vines and trees.
Heywood says the workload still hasn t changed but the value of the crop has been reduced to nothing.