52 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Wairarapa Moana Incorporation Nurturing ‘our people, our place, our future’ Russell Fredric Writing the vision and making it plain is a strong focus for the management and leadership of Wairarapa Moana Incorporated (WMI). Group general manager Anaru Smiler says WMI’s vision is to nurture “our people, our place, our future.” Its overarching philosophy of kaitiakitanga – active guardianship – is underpinned by the values of tika/integrity; whanaungatanga/communication; rangatiratanga/ courage; wananga/knowledge and kotahitanga/working together. The key to realising WMI’s vision is having a standard of excellence across the entire business that depends strongly on creating a positive team culture among its 115 staff, Anaru says. Wairarapa Moana Farms produces close to five million kilograms of milk solids a year from 12,500 cows on 12 dairy units. Its primary operation covers more than 10,000 hectares in Mangakino, South Waikato, in addition to a 370-hectare dairy support unit at Kaharoa, near Rotorua. “What we strive to do is to be excellent across all the things that we need to do to make the business a success. We are proud of what was recognised in us winning the Ahuwhenua award last year,” Anaru says. WMI won the Ahuwhenua trophy for Excellence in Farming Award having entered just one of its 12 farms, Farm 4, managed by Kim Turner, for the competition. One of the judge’s comments that WMI’s leadership was the most proud of was referring to the WMI ‘village’. “That was clearly a thing that they saw about us.” Wairarapa Moana Farms produces close to five million kilograms of milk solids a year. “So everybody in the organisation from the top down really understands their part to play really, really well, and are well- motivated to deliver what they do to a high standard of excellence, so that clearly came through to the judges when they interviewed us and on the farm tour.” Translating the vision and values of WMI into tangibles starts with a clear plan at board level. This plan includes the personal growth and development of staff and has required considerable commitment to training and providing benefits that make the business attractive to new employees as well as for staff retention. “We spend a lot of time to ensure that our policies and processes that we have to deliver that plan are really well understood; we are very clear about what’s expected. “We organise and train our teams accordingly to be able to give them the skills and confidence to execute their part to that.” WMI undertakes surveys with staff in order to understand what they are thinking, and also has its own black tie awards event that includes its suppliers and business partners as a part of incentivising effort and achievement across the whole business. WMI’s support of staff includes mental health and well-being support facilitated through an independent company. It is said that an army marches on its stomach and WMI recognises its staff are no different and makes sure their staff are well fed by providing some meals and meat packs. WMI also ensures its staff are well remunerated, paying above the industry benchmark. “Particularly through the peak periods where things get a bit busy we want to make sure particularly our young staff are looking after themselves by eating well and being healthy.” Proudly supporting Wairarapa Moana Incorporation Native Re-Vegetation Planting Registered Chemical Applicators Erosion and Sediment Control Industrial Rope Access Systems Working at Height Systems Vegetation Removal General Labour Hire Pest Control Al Hardy PO Box 1644 Taupo Mob: 021 371 632 Email: al@arcoenviro.co.nz The scale of the business means WMI has sixty staff houses and a significant effort is made to ensure they meet Healthy Homes standards and are generally well maintained and renovated to a high standard as needed. This aspect of excellence across the business includes an ethos of “farm pride” which includes keeping the areas around milking sheds and farm buildings tidy, along with tractors and equipment being well-maintained and kept up-to-date. • Pressure Pumps • Trenching • Pool Products • Water Filtration • Effluent Systems • Water Blasters • Bore Lifts 07 886 0271 15 Campbell St, Tokoroa 3420 www.swws.co.nz DESIGN • SUPPLY • INSTALL Our Business is Pumping SouthWaikato Water Solutions Ltd
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