Editorial: NZ's great China move
OPINION: The New Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market - and the signs are looking positive.
New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sector is seeking assurances from the Government that employers will still deliver on-the-job training as part of vocational education reforms.
The Meat Industry Association (MIA), whose members employ about 25,000 people across New Zealand, is concerned at the decision to replace the current industry training organisations (ITOs) with “Workforce Development Councils” and to shift the role of ITOs in supporting workplace-based training to a new ‘mega-polytechnic’.
“While we recognise more needs to be done to improve access to training opportunities, the current vocational training model, where the Primary Industry Training Organisation (PrITO) organises and facilitates but employers undertake training on-site, works well for the meat processing industry,” says MIA chief executive Tim Ritchie.
“Delivery of on-the-job training is by the employer, and not external providers. We seek assurance from the Government that won’t change.”
The meat industry is one of the biggest trainers of New Zealand workers. In 2018, the sector had approximately 5,300 people undergoing NZQA-accredited, employer-led, delivered and assessed on the job training – achieving an 82% completion rate.
“Red meat processors are heavily involved in industry training, with almost all workers currently trained by the processing company they work for,” says Ritchie.
“Having a skilled workforce is extremely important to the sector. We are investing in training systems and programmes to upskill workers and promote the sector as an attractive career option. Our employer-delivered training is working and our scholarship programme, apprenticeship schemes and schools programmes are helping to attract talent to the sector.”
The meat industry’s members operate 60 processing plants, mainly in regional New Zealand and in many towns the meat processor is the largest single employer.
“The previous reorganisations of the ITOs proved to be extremely disruptive but are now working effectively for our industry,” says Ritchie.
“Companies are making important investment decisions and staff are making career choices – it is important that the Government provides more detail and certainty about how workplace-based training by employers will be supported in the future.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…