Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
They employ 7000 people throughout the country in a range of roles from factory processors to tanker operators, food safety and quality experts and environmental managers.
So, the Best Site Cup awards at Fonterra is an event everyone looks forward to. This year, however, things were different thanks to Covid-19.
A Fonterra spokesman says teams gathered across the country to dial into the celebration last month.
“Our sites are starting to ramp back up after winter [shutdown], so it was nice to see the teams come together to celebrate the year that’s been,” he says.
“It’s been a season like no other and we’re proud of how the teams have come together during these challenging times.
“It’s nice to be able to take the time to celebrate the season and some outstanding success stories.”
Pahiatua in the Lower North Island received the Sustainability award, based on the focus they’ve had on reducing water, energy and waste. The site has the lowest water-to-milk ratio of Fonterra sites in New Zealand and they’ve reduced their water use by more than half a million litres a day through a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.
The Darfield site took away the Best Big Site award. They’ve had a great year making progress against their goals, including the target set by the co-op last year to reduce their water use by 30% by 2030.
The Kauri site was recognised for Health and Safety. In the midst of droughts and floods in Northland, health and safety remained front of mind for the site.
Te Rapa, Hamilton, took out the Transformation award. They made improvements in a variety of areas including employee engagement, health and safety and product quality.
Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Manufacturing’, the awards are now in their 14th year. There were 14 awards up for grabs.
