GETTING KIWIS INTO THE KIWIFRUIT INDUSTRY
Through Work and Income, New Zealanders Megan Dowling, Tori Kahotea and Izak Proctor have all found jobs with Garcia Contracting Services.
And for different reasons, they are all pleased they did.
Megan is working again after a period of illness while Tori and Izak are planning on taking a year out from studying after leaving Te Puke High School last year.
They have all worked in the industry before.
Megan says the company has been “wonderful” in helping her get back into the workforce.
“This place has been wonderful — the communication’s very clear, they’re professional and the orchards are nice and tidy, the people are friendly, there’s no bullying, the pays are on time — this is a great place to work I think.”
She says the possibility to work all year round is also an attraction.
“I’ve been doing girdling and I’ve also been thinning fruit and before that winding the strings — there’s work all round,” she says.
While she says she has had bad experiences in the kiwifruit industry in the past, she has had bad experiences in other jobs too. She has also been appreciative of the flexibility of shifts and understanding of managers.
“There’s a job for everybody here — if you are good with machinery you can drive a tractor, if you are a real Speedy Gonzalez, there’s a fast-paced job.”
Tori and Izak both left Te Puke High School last year and are likely to make 2019 a gap year.
They have both worked in the kiwifruit industry during their school holidays.
Working for Garcia Contracting Services was the results of a Business After 5 event at the school in September.
Izak says he has learned new skills since he started working on the orchard and is enjoying the work environment and the variety.
While he intends to study next year, working in the orchard has made him at least consider a career in the kiwifruit industry.
“It’s always good to have a back-up plan,” he says.
Tori lives on an orchard, but admits that until now she had very little idea about what goes on behind the scenes.
She says she is enjoying work — preferring it to working in a packhouse — that the supervisors have been very supportive and that she now appreciates the opportunities the kiwifruit industry offers.