“Pretty dam hopeless” comment endorsed

Rural contractors struggling to find employees, agree with the Deputy Prime Minister Bill English that some New Zealand's are 'pretty damn hopeless” when it comes to work ethic.

Rural Contractors NZ president Steve Levet says those comments made at a Federated Farmers meeting in relation to the suitability and work ethic of some young New Zealanders are, unfortunately, correct.


Rural Contractors NZ president Steve Levet says it's hard to find skilled New Zealanders who want to carry out seasonal work.

"Bill English is right when he says that some younger New Zealanders, when offered the chance for work, won't take it, can't pass drug tests, or don't have an appropriate drivers licence.

'Ask any rural contractor about some of the experiences they have had in trying to get people to fill vacancies in our sector over the years, and you will hear the same kind of comments that Mr English has.

'Every year, in many parts of the country, it's often impossible for rural contractors to find skilled New Zealanders who want to carry out this seasonal work. That's why it's necessary for us to look overseas to find experienced people to fill this need.”

Steve says Rural Contractors NZ has worked alongside the Ministry of Social Development in developing opportunities to employ young New Zealanders, but many of the applicants MSD tries to fill these vacancies with; either do not have the right skill-set and/or attitude to be successful.

'RCNZ will continue to work closely with the Government, political parties and officials to ensure that locals have the best opportunity for employment in our industry.

'But the reality is that the agricultural contacting sector – like many others – relies on overseas workers to fill a gap that is not met by locals – some of whom are unwilling to take on these vacancies.”

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7 comments

Always hard

Posted on 18-04-2016 09:10 | By mutley

to find employees when you only pay the minimum wage. The "appropriate" driver's licence can represent in some cases a major investment in time and money - are the Rural Contractors prepared to offer any training for this, or do they just expect "appropriately" skilled workers to just turn up and be happy to work for peanuts ?


Dole is a better alternative.

Posted on 18-04-2016 09:34 | By jed

I've worked for a farmer before. They work you like dogs , pay is terrible, and you get exposed to all sorts of nasty chemicals. And that was working for my uncle. If they cannot find workers then it means pay is too low and they should pay more. If paying more means they don't make any money then their business is unsustainable and they should sell up.


Work ethic

Posted on 18-04-2016 13:29 | By overit

As much as I agree with some of the other comments, work ethic among some of our young is very poor. I truelly believe in work for the Dole even if its for 2 days. This business of lying in bed is no good for their psyche or body.


LAZY MY BUM

Posted on 18-04-2016 13:41 | By Colleen Spiro

Hey lazy farm worker. NZ is so deregulated & your boss has more rights than u. How about 18 days straight, 12 hour day (Helen Kelly) Start treating people like people, not like dogs. pay them what they are worth.


great attitude jed

Posted on 18-04-2016 17:58 | By usandthem

My daughter and son in law are sharemilkers in the south island and pay their 2 I c over $60,000 a year.The last 2 have taken off when they failed a drug test,that's why there are so many Phillipino's working on farms.Bill English is dead right.You only have to see the amount of deadbeats still on the dole when the kiwifruit season is screaming out for workers.Their dole should be cut during the kiwifruit season.


They want

Posted on 18-04-2016 19:40 | By Merlin

While I agree there is a poor work ethic by some kiwi's and some are not employable for various issues they are working for a minimum wage and to get to work less travel costs does not help because sometimes their is not a lot more in it for them and the Government catch cry to pay more will costs jobs when a decent minimum wage would help the situation.Most immigrant workers will work for a very low wage from my experience in employing and working in a lower paid job over my working life.


@ usandthem

Posted on 18-04-2016 21:59 | By GreertonCynic

60k = How many hours? And did something serious happen? Why would you drug test good employees??


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