Workers in Kaikoura in short supply
Kaikoura businesses are struggling to find staff as workers head to higher wages and more hours while rebuilding State Highway 1.
More than 1300 workers are involved in the earthquake repairs to SH1. The vital road is due to reopen before Christmas.
SH1 is being rebuilt by the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery alliance (NCTIR), made up of several organisations including the NZ Transport Agency and KiwiRail.
Kaikoura Building Centre and Alliance Beekeeping Woodware owner Sam Baker claimed NCTIR was ‘‘shoulder-tapping people within businesses’’ to fill their roles.
Baker said it happened to his staff, describing it as ‘‘unsettling at the very least’’. None of his staff had left, but those approached told Baker about it.
He said he would not mind if staff were applying for jobs advertised by NCTIR, as then it would be up to the individual if they went for it or not.
Baker aired his concerns to Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy when they visited Kaikoura on Tuesday.
Drummond and Etheridge, which sells and services farm and marine equipment, has been looking for a mechanic since the beginning of June.
Branch manager Rob Marshall said one of their previous mechanics had started his own business servicing machines being used in the roadworks.
He said ‘‘money’’ was the reason the mechanic left.
‘‘It’s good for him, gives his family a bit of a boost, but yeah, it is frustrating.’’
Marshall said they had been advertising for a replacement, but it was hard to get anyone to move there because of town’s accommodation shortages caused by the influx of road workers.
‘‘Because all the businesses are busy, no one’s looking at changing jobs, so if there’s any mechanics that live here, they’re not looking at changing companies.’’
Kaikoura Bakery co-owner Sophia Smedley said they had one staff member leave to ‘‘go out on the roads’’ for the higher wages and hours of work available.
Smedley said they would normally hire a tourist for the role, which was a front of house position, but tourists were also finding rebuild jobs.
She said not having the position filled was putting ‘‘quite a bit of strain’’ on staff.
‘‘I think what people are more concerned about is when the road does reopen, things will get extremely busy and the roading crews will still be up there, so we’re still not going to have staff.’’
Smedley said when the road works dried up, a lot of people would be looking for work.
‘‘My one hope is the guys that are running all the roading crews, don’t take all those good staff and offer them positions elsewhere.’’
NZ Transport Agency earthquake recovery manager Steve Mutton said poaching or shoulder-tapping was not part of their recruitment policy and they had reminded their managers of this.
‘‘Any vacancies we have within the NCTIR team, we’re going to be advertising.’’
He said was committed to employing locals as much as possible and ‘‘supporting Kaikoura and the surrounding towns in tangible ways’’.
‘‘Our whole vision is about moving mountains and reconnecting communities and part of that is actually growing the community as well.’’
Mutton said many rebuild workers were relatively mobile and would move to other places when the project was completed, while others would return to preearthquake jobs in Kaikoura and the wider region.
Kaikoura Mayor Winston Gray said he believed any people approached with job offers had probably been done so by subcontractors.
He said the shortage of staff was in some ways a good problem as they had been wondering if there would be any work for people over winter.
Baker asked for better communication between NCTIR and local businesses. In response, NCTIR will meet with some local businesses on Friday.
Joyce said NCTIR was ‘‘determined to make it the best relationship possible, because they know they’re guests in town’’.
‘‘The alliance is doing its best to be a really good neighbour for the local businesses.’’