• New Zealand Regions
      • Hawke's Bay
      • Bay of Plenty
      • Waikato
      • Whanganui
      • Manawatu
      • Northland
      • Auckland
      • Gisborne
      • Taranaki
      • Wellington
      • West Coast
      • Nelson
      • Canterbury
      • Otago
      • Marlborough
      • Southland
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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

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      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

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      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

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      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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Gavin Stagg: there’s a bright future in kiwifruit

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His job is to help facilitate seasonal recruitment in an industry that is growing fast and facing ongoing and significant labour shortages.

Over the past few months, Gavin has been working with the industry including labour contractors to coordinate the sector’s worker requirements. He has also been championing in an industry that has kept him interested and engaged for the past eight years.

“I’m a great example of why kiwifruit is a good sector to get involved in,” he says. Until I joined the industry, the longest I’d held a job was two years. In this business, no two days are the same. It keeps me interested.”

Gavin’s role is funded through the Provincial Growth Fund. The funding is part of an investment package aimed at growing the Eastern Bay of Plenty economy with co-funding from the Ministry of Social Development and NZKGI.

Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones announced the funding last December. In May this year, he also announced that the Fund will invest $1.1 million in six horticulture career coordinators nationwide to tackle labour supply issues facing the horticulture sector.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ regional economic development team supported NZKGI on its funding applications for these roles, including Gavin’s. MPI works closely with the organisation, a key player in the kiwifruit industry. The Bay of Plenty is responsible for nearly 80% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit production.

“This is crucial work because kiwifruit exports are a big earner for the region, and the sector is growing quickly,” says Rebecca Lyon, MPI’s Development Manager for the Bay of Plenty region.

“Growers are already struggling to find workers, and these shortages are only going to get worse unless we take practical steps to address them now.”

Gavin’s specific role is to manage seasonal recruitment initiatives in conjunction with growers, contractors and packhouses. Some of his work has also involved looking at longer term outcomes for the industry. This includes helping to run a series of surveys among permanent and seasonal workers to better understand employment trends and predict how many employees the industry will need over the next 10 years.

Gavin grew up in Marlborough and left Blenheim when he was 16. He trained as a chef in Nelson, before joining the army for a couple of years. He moved to Wellington where he took up various roles in hospitality. Eight years ago, he took up his first role in the kiwifruit industry, as an employment officer with Mount Pac. He progressed rapidly, becoming pack house operations manager within five years.

Gavin, who now lives in Tauranga with his wife, says his wide-ranging work experience has helped him in the new role.

“You have to be able to deal with people from all walks of life, including workers, some of whom don’t speak English. You have to be able to absorb and learn rapidly, to understand the challenges people face and figure out practical solutions.”

“Seasonal labour can be a gateway to longer term work. There will always be a need for seasonal employees, but there are also longer term options.

“This is a booming industry, it’s growing exceedingly fast. You could start as an orchard pruner earning around minimum wage and move up to become an orchard manager earning more than $100,000.”

Export revenue of New Zealand kiwifruit reached over $2.6 billion for the 2018/19 season, a 24 percent increase over the previous year.

Gavin says the labour shortages are also an issue in other sectors such as the construction and hospitality sectors.
“We need to address this on several levels, by attracting more people to the industry as well as potentially working with other sectors to provide consistent work for people.”

NZKGI have developed a useful guideline to better understand seasonal work in the sector.

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