RWNZ chief executive to step down
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) chief executive Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June.
A training programme to help the kiwifruit industry provide employment opportunities for New Zealanders is receiving Government funding.
Up to $200,000 is being invested to help people into work and meet urgent seasonal demand in the sector.
“We know that people have lost their jobs because of COVID-19, and we know there is significant and urgent demand for trained workers in the horticulture sector,” says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.
“During lockdown the kiwifruit industry provided a lifeline for a number of displaced workers from industries such as tourism, forestry and hospitality. We want to continue to connect people with jobs in horticulture, and more broadly in the primary industries because we know these sectors will be key to our economic recovery.
O’Connor says in the immediate term, the Government is aiming to place at least 10,000 New Zealanders in primary sector jobs.
COVID-19 travel restrictions resulted in the kiwifruit sector facing labour shortages, however, indicative figures show that New Zealanders have responded to the call for workers.
Kiwifruit businesses are now employing around 70% New Zealanders, with some businesses employing up to 90%, compared to around 50% last season.
O’Connor says the figures indicate that interest from local workers is there and this should be built upon in the longer term.
“Right now the focus for kiwifruit growers is to complete pruning over winter. This is critical for next year’s production. So we’re not wasting any time, these courses will start this month.”
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
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