Kiwifruit sector's big night out
The turmoil and challenges faced by the kiwifruit industry in the past 30 years were put to one side but not forgotten at a glitzy night for 400 kiwifruit growers and guests in Mt Maunganui recently.
Anyone in the Te Puke area who is fit to work and wants a job can probably have one tomorrow, says Seeka chief executive Michael Franks.
The coolstore and packhouse operator is still able to recruit and has a hotline set up 0800 SEEKAJOBS
“If you ring them up and you are available to work particularly in Te Puke we will sign you up. You can work tomorrow,” he told Rural News.
Franks says they are well short of labour.
“We have probably got 400-500 RSE workers that aren’t here and they are really experienced people that have been working for us for a long time. Typically they were working nightshift, graveyard or work through the night to get fruit packed.
“So not only are we missing a number of workers, but also experienced people who have been doing the job for 10 years.
“Getting enough skilled workers, or key staff such as quality controllers, EDI (electronic data interchange), pack line or grading supervisors, that’s tough.”
But for all positions “we still need a lot more people”, he says.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
OPINION: Hats off to our pipfruit sector.
OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…
OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…