The show must go on.

Plants and animals don’t care about COVID19.    Essential seasonal work still needed to be done regardless of any risk to humans.   This was particularly true for vineyard workers with harvest and the lockdown buildup coinciding.  So when you enjoy a bottle of wine from 2020 (destined to be an excellent vintage)  spare a thought for those helped who make it possible. 

Farming has underpinned New Zealand’s prosperity for most of our history and once again its importance has been highlighted by the crisis.   Farmers and their staff might not have faced a problem with social distancing but there were plenty of other challenges created by the lockdown.  

It can be easy to take these activities for granted because they are, literally, part of the landscape.   But without a doubt they certainly deserve the title of “Essential Services.”