Woolworks scour reopens after $50m rebuild
The world’s largest wool processing facility, badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle over one year ago, has re-opened following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project.
The company was recently approved for the Authorised Economic Operator/Secure Exports Schemes (AEO/SES), which is designed to make exporting easier.
Certified companies must satisfy Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa New Zealand Customs Service that they have the required rigorous procedures and protocols in place to ensure goods are packed, stored and transported in a way that meets global customs standards. They must also ensure Customs has confidence in the security of its supply chain.
WoolWorks chief executive Nigel Hales says the minister’s visit to the Awatoto site on last week marked the official signing of the partnership agreement.
“WoolWorks handles 80 per cent of New Zealand’s wool and having a partnership like this is a significant boost and a vote of confidence in everything we do.
“It makes us a preferred supplier of certified produce from our plants and our customers’ produce will travel through a ‘green lane’ to ensure it is not held up at the border.”
Hales says that preferred ‘green lane’ is especially important at a time when the supply chain is impacted by Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.
“It means our containers of wool can travel unimpeded because New Zealand has an agreement with receiving countries,” he says.
WoolWorks chief operating officer Tony Cunningham says Whaitiri was familiar with the wool industry and was interested to hear more about its supply chain.
“The Minister is originally from the East Coast, where her family was involved in shearing, then she moved to the Hawke’s Bay,” he says.
Cunningham says the Minister shared her memories of time spent in the shearing shed during the visit.
“She sees wool as an excellent alternative to many man-made fibres and appreciates the resurgence in demand for wool and our hope that will filter through to some increased revenue for farmers.”
The Minister toured the plant to learn more about the company’s processing operations.
“Between our two plants in Napier and Timaru, we are the largest early stage wool processor in the world. Consolidation of wool scouring companies has enabled us to develop a business of scale that is modern and internationally competitive and we are a strategic asset to New Zealand.”
