| 45 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Rakaia Island Continued investment, financial discipline and strong governance are helping position the business for the long term. Dairy laneways for cows with standards. Request a quote today tarbotton.co.nz 03 307 7065 FULL PROJECT MANAGEMENT LOCALLY SOURCED / PROCESSED MATERIALS RELIABLE, LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE QUICK AND COST-EFFECTIVE DELIVERY We design and construct dairy laneways that deliver efficient, all-weather access across your farm. From dairy conversions to infrastructure upgrades, we manage the entire process to create reliable laneways built for long-term performance in demanding rural conditions. Get the job Done Right because your cows deserve better footing. Phone Sandy on 027 438 9576 Quarry Hours: 7am -5pmweekdays www.ellesmereexcavationandaggregate.co.nz ELLESMERE EXCAVATION AND AGGREGATE LTD Proud to support Rakaia Island • 2A filter sand • Crusher dust • Crusher AP 20, 40 & 65 • Washed premix 13mm & 20mm • 12mm driveway chip • Boulders • 2mm turf sand • 3mm plastering sand Tambo is proud to support Rakaia Island www.tambo.co.nz 027 5774 217 info@tambo.co.nz A structured 5:2 roster gives staff regular, predictable time off, while the wider package includes free daily lunches, health checks, flu vaccinations, on-site English classes and profit sharing. “At Rakaia Island, we look at the whole employee experience rather than simply focusing on recruitment,” Annabel says. “I believe that for dairy to compete with other industries for good people, we have to offer conditions that allow them to have a good life as well as a good career.” The business has also adapted its accommodation as its workforce has changed, adding two three-bedroom homes and a four-bedroom home in recent years. “Historically, many of our properties were better suited to single employees, but changes in immigration settings meant we were seeing more families looking to live and work on-farm, and our existing housing mix didn’t reflect that,” she says. Infrastructure investment has continued elsewhere on the farm, with a 20-year-old dairy shed replaced and relocated to reduce cow walking distances and give the unit greater operational flexibility. Operations manager Richie Turner says continued investment, financial discipline and strong governance are helping position the business for the long term, while the new season is shaping up well. “The farm is in a great position coming into the new season; we have had good winter growth and have had favourable conditions allowing for good feed utilisation,” he says. “We are conscious of the threat an El Niño summer can bring, but we feel we are in a good position currently.” For Richie, that strength comes down to the people on the ground. “We have a fantastic group of people at Rakaia Island, which creates a strong team,” he says. “We are seeing benefits right through the business as a result of the great people who work here.”
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