Thursday, 19 December 2019 10:00

Meat processors welcome stronger industry voice 

Written by  Staff Reporters
Chief executive of the MIA, Tim Ritchie. Chief executive of the MIA, Tim Ritchie.

The Meat Industry Association welcomes the establishment of six industry-led Workforce Development Councils.

The meat processing industry, one of the biggest trainers in New Zealand and the country’s largest manufacturing sector, is to become part of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics Workforce Development Council. 

“Ensuring that the vocational education reforms deliver is critical for meat processors,” says Tim Ritchie, chief executive of the MIA.

“This is an opportunity for our industry to work with other food and beverage manufacturers to build a skills pipeline that works for industry.

“There are significant synergies by having industries with similar training environments and needs being more closely aligned. For our industry that means aligning with other food manufacturers who operate in a factory environment. 

“But equally, we are pleased that there will be a strong Primary WDC focused on delivering the best possible training system for farmers and growers. We especially welcome the Education Minister’s recognition that vocational training has to be led by the industries.”

Last year, meat processors trained more than 5,300 people in NZQA-recognised qualifications with an 83% completion rate. 

The meat processing sector is looking forward to a WDC which will support the development and implementation of workforce strategies and create a better skills pipeline, said Mr Ritchie.

“We also want a WDC that can create the qualifications responsive to the needs of industry. We want a strong voice for meat processors and to work with aligned food and beverage manufacturers in the new WDC,” says Ritchie.

More like this

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.

Red meat's China push

The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.

Primary sector chuffed

Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy says his organisation welcomes the new trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting the UAE is the second largest market for the red meat sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council after Saudi Arabia.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

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.

Expo set to wow again

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.

A year of global challenges

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.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter