26 | Waitaki: Te Pari Products Agritech products reach global market Kim Newth Te Pari’s modern 4400sqm manufacturing facility, purpose-built in 2015, is equipped with numerous robotic welders, CNC lasers cutters and a tube laser. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Auckland may be the country’s main manufacturing hub, but it would be a mistake to under-estimate what’s happening in our regional towns. Oamaru proves the point. Just off the main highway in the town’s north is a high-tech factory that makes leading edge cattle and sheep handling products for New Zealand and the world. Te Pari Products was originally started in 1980 by a North Island farmer who began manufacturing a new type of docking iron for lambs’ tails. After purchasing the business in 1997, the Blampied family built on that innovative base and has progressively invested in research and development to provide today’s extensive range of cattle and sheep handling solutions. Te Pari’s modern 4400sqm manufacturing facility, purpose-built in 2015, is equipped with numerous robotic welders, CNC lasers cutters and a tube laser. High quality steel, fully hot dip galvanised after welding, is used to make hardy cattle crushes, yards and other livestock handling products. Te Pari consults closely with farmers to ensure they are supplied with the right handling solution for their needs. “Our production focus is on making sheep and cattle handling equipment that helps improve on farm profitability and efficiency,” explains Jeremy Blampied, Te Pari’s director of sales and marketing. “Through using our equipment, farmers find they can save on labour and become a lot more productive.” Te Pari Products is contributing to New Zealand’s great reputation around the world for excellence in agritech, with over 50 per cent of the company’s production exported around the globe. Te Pari employs a global team, with staff in Australia, the UK and the US. “We’re exporting 40-foot containers every week. The sheep industry in Australia is doing very well and as an industry is three times the size of New Zealand. We have our own premises in Melbourne, with a warehouse and a dedicated service and support team – it’s an essential operation for us in Australia.” High beef prices are showing no sign of slowing either. “We do a lot of cattle handling systems in Australia as well.” In the Waitaki district, Te Pari is making a big contribution to local growth and development. The company employs a strong team of around 100 staff across all divisions. “As a company, we offer good career opportunities including apprenticeships in a modern operating environment that is progressive and dynamic. “Our production facility is quite a diverse operation including steel fabrication, hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics so we cover a range of disciplines. “Some of our sales team started off in production before moving to technical support and then sales, so there are definitely career pathways for people joining our team – and with our global presence, there are opportunities to move with us to other countries like Australia too.” Te Pari’s customer service and technical support is of a very high standard. “Our sales team is in the field regularly and we have a team of technicians based in New Zealand and Australia that service equipment in the field.” Feedback from the sales team and customers drives the company’s ongoing development agenda, with a research and development team employed to support innovation. People may perceive that manufacturing in some regions is a little old-fashioned, but clearly this Oamaru agritech company is at the cutting edge. “We offer people a good job and a good career in beautiful Waitaki where everything is at your fingertips – mountains, rivers and sea, and we’re close to a big city too. “We’re always looking for people who are keen to work with us.” Stephen Duff Mitsubishi in association with Peter Keown Mitsubishi Oamaru are proud to be associated with Te Pari Products subiPari P 03 466 4190 • stephenduffmitsubishi.co.nz
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