At last night’s 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, the food and fiber industry recognized its people and leadership.
“This is a time to celebrate their passion towards supporting employees by putting their health, welfare, and wellbeing first,” Acting Minister of Agriculture Meka Whairiti said.
Meka Whaitiri stated that “award winners were chosen from a remarkable group of finalists across the food and fiber sector, including wine, dairy, horticulture, forestry, apiculture, and fisheries.”
They are aware that their employees directly affect the success of their enterprises, and that if their employees prosper, so will their businesses.
Those that won Good Employer Awards include:
Co. Raglan Food (Employee Development Award & overall Supreme Award)
Farms Align Limited (Safe and Healthy Work Environment Award)
The Sealord Group, Inc. (Inclusive and Diverse Workplace Award)
the du Plessis brothers, of Mosa Farming Ltd. (Small Business Recognition Award)
Tne Mahuta NZ Ltd’s Wini and Simon Geddes received the Maori Agribusiness Award.
The awards, according to Minister of Forestry Stuart Nash, are a chance to recognize and honor outstanding employers all around Aotearoa.
Stuart Nash remarked, “I’d like to congratulate the Awards recipients, the finalists, and all of this year’s entrants.”
“They continue to offer work environments that support and nurture their employees, as well as the ideal settings and circumstances that fuel their achievement.”
The 367,000 employees in our food and fiber sector look up to the honored employers as role models. They ought to be really proud.
Meka Whaitiri, associate minister of agriculture, claimed that the pandemic has brought attention to the value of treating and assisting workers.
“The pandemic has shown how crucial it is to look out for our people and make sure the proper support is in place.
With export income anticipated to reach a record $52.2 billion in the year ending June 30, 2022, the food and fiber sector is driving Aotearoa’s recovery from COVID-19.
The success of this effort depends on cultivating and keeping a competent team, she said.
According to Damien O’Connor, the companies recognized at the Good Employer Awards demonstrated the vibrancy and inclusivity of the food and fiber industry as a place where individuals could prosper, develop their talents, and establish long-lasting careers.
“I’d like to thank all of our entrants, finalists, and award winners for the important role they play in leading and advocating exceptional and forward-thinking employment practices, as well as healthy workplaces,” the statement reads.
The Ministry for Primary Industries and Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) are presenting the Awards, now in their third year, to recognize employers who put their employees at the center of their operations.