Applicants flock to free-range egg farm (+video)

A new free-range egg farm near Rotorua had more than 100 people apply for the first few positions - and is now looking for more staff.

The Kaharoa-based egg farm is now up and running with 25,000 hens and has resource consent for four times that number. Sancra Farms was given resource consent approval by Rotorua Lakes Council to build the farm on a 50ha property on Kaharoa Rd at the end of 2014 and the farm became operational late last year.

General manager William Sandle said the company had an "overwhelming response" to the job advertisements with more than 100 people applying for the six or seven production positions.

He said the farm now employed 11 staff, a figure which he expected to increase as the farm grew. The company is currently looking for a farm manager. "The farm is running with 25,000 hens and we have resource consent for four times this capacity."

Mr Sandle said the majority of those who applied for the jobs had been good quality applicants.

Mr Sandle said the eggs were available at Westend New World, Countdown Rotorua and Vetro Rotorua under the Otaika Valley brand. He said the company had received great support from the council during the development phase.

The company bought the property after an extensive search in the Rotorua area. The site was chosen because of its close proximity to a large commercial feed mill in Mount Maunganui as well as allowing for a central North Island location for distributing products.