Business North December / January 2021

| 13 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Northland - Onyx Horticulture Creating sustainable work for locals T Karen Phelps Patrick Malley: “the diversity of our business allows us to provide opportunities for people to learn, grow and progress.” T he horticulture industry has come under some fire recently regarding employment opportunities and working conditions for local employees, with growers increasingly worried about whether they will be able to get enough staff to complete their harvests. But director of Maungatapere Berries, Pat- rick Malley has found the solution by focusing on employing locals and creating sustainable and rewarding work opportunities for North- landers. Part of the Onyx Horticulture group the company’s employment programme is so innovative and is such an integral part of its business that it was a finalist in the MPI Pri- mary Industries Good Employer Awards 2018 – Employee Development category. Patrick says that Maungatapere Berries core values are passion for quality, sustainability (environmental and societal), innovation and integrity in all areas of its operation and this drives everything the company does. “From the best quality produce to the employment programmes we run to recruit, develop and retain staff from both the local community and our seasonal workers, we are providing both a product that is the best for our consumers and an environment that is beneficial for our community and staff,” he says. When Patrick and wife Rebecca joined Patrick’s parents Dermott and Linzi in estab- lishing the business in 2011 Patrick saw it was challenging to create consistent long-term em- ployment opportunities for staff with a single type of horticultural crop. This led them to add hydroponic berries to their growing mix of kiwifruit and avocados and the rest is history. “We wanted to focus on having multi-skilled staff that could go from the packhouse to prune kiwifruit to manage the hydroponic operation. The diversity of our business allows us to manage our workforce and to provide opportunities for people to learn, grow and progress.” Hydroponics, which is not as impacted by weather conditions, allows for consistency of work and more stable work patterns giving staff job security. A transparent pay structure where staff are paid based on skill – regardless of what tasks they perform in the operation – provides incentive for people to develop and grow their incomes accordingly. “We operate a point system – so they might get one point for a restricted license and two points for a full license, for example. “There is also a performance bonus on top of the hourly pay rate depending on the task,” explains Patrick. He says further focus is placed on creating a positive work culture with social events such as work hangis where everyone is involved. The business also gives opportunities to those who might traditionally find it difficult to gain work placement. “We accept people as they show up. We say that their history starts and stops at the orchard gate. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives but it doesn’t mean people don’t deserve a second chance.” In fact he says some of the greatest rewards of the business has been to see people leave: “If people go on to other careers or opportuni- ties and have really built something for them- selves and their families that started here, and we’ve played a small part in that, then we see that as a big success.” Likewise the family is happy to pass on knowledge to help others, including local iwi, to start or grow horticultural businesses. “Our aim is to continue to grow our busi- ness, in building on the existing business structure to offer related horticultural servic- es, so we are producing more good, healthy food in Northland for New Zealand and the world.” BRYANT TRACTORS LTD • Sales / Service / Parts • New & Used Tractors • Maintenance & Repairs • Servicing of all makes & models 38 Rewa Rewa Rd, Whangarei | Ph: 09 438 1319 admin@bryanttractors.co.nz | www.bryanttractors.co.nz Your Local Water Experts Pumps Irrigation Filtration Tanks Fittings Service & Installation S U P P L Y I N S T A L L S E R V I C E M A I N T A I N S Y S T E M D E S I G N Locally owned, locally operated. WWW.THINKWATERNORTHLAND.CO.NZ 117 Port Road, Whangarei | P 09 4300 240 Proud supporters of Maungatapere Berries