The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Shearing crisis looms, says Clarke Shearing

By Dave Murdoch
Reporter·Bush Telegraph·
8 Jul, 2018 07:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Senior Woolhandlers Placegetters at this year's A&P Show. From Left: 1st Sheree Alabaster, 2nd Keryn Herbert, 3rd Rani Williams with sponsor Dean Shuker CP Wool.

Senior Woolhandlers Placegetters at this year's A&P Show. From Left: 1st Sheree Alabaster, 2nd Keryn Herbert, 3rd Rani Williams with sponsor Dean Shuker CP Wool.

According to Alan Clarke of Clarke Shearing there is a crisis looming in the shearing industry and that opinion is backed by other local contractors including Mavis and Aria Mullins of Mullins Shearing.

A shortage of experienced shearers and wool-handlers is starting to bite and Alan puts it down to three trends.

Increasingly, young shearers are being lured overseas by big money, able to earn twice as much in Australia and three times the amount in the UK, according to long-time operator in the industry, Mavis Mullins.

The final of the Senior Wool Handling shows lots of skill and energy as competitors demonstrate their expertise.
The final of the Senior Wool Handling shows lots of skill and energy as competitors demonstrate their expertise.

It is not just money but the attraction of different countries and cultures, the chance to follow summer all year round and just the sheer excitement of having an OE and being well paid for it.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A second trend is the decline in young people wanting to take shearing and wool-handling on as a career despite the attraction of the OE. Aria Mullins says Health and Safety regulations mean kids cannot go into the shed when in use and so children are not exposed to the atmosphere and excitement.

Alan says the seasonal demand for shearers locally makes it less attractive for those considering shearing. His business is down to 12 staff at present compared with 30-40 in the summer.

Mavis says not enough is being done to make shearing as a career "cool and enjoyable for the millennials who have lots of options". She said she is excited by the good young entrants at recent Golden Shears events but the industry must make career pathways more clear. All say schools have a major role to play, Alan quoting Napier Boys which has currently some students in training at Tautane Station.

Roland Smith in action at the Dannevirke 2018 A&P Show.
Roland Smith in action at the Dannevirke 2018 A&P Show.

The third trend is the decline in training organisations. In the halcyon days of shearing Tectra (partly funded by a wool levy) provided excellent courses but since it folded a number of private organisations have tried to fill the vacuum and failed.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Alan says the decision of the NZ Shearing Contractors Association to raise the pay rate from $1-50/sheep to $2 will definitely help keep some shearers at home. He knows farmers are not pleased with this 40 per cent increase given the return on wool but hopes the high meat prices partly compensate. Aria says she is excited for her loyal and hardworking shearers to have a higher living allowance.

But it is not just about money. Those interviewed believe the shearers, contractors and farmers must get together to secure the future of the industry.

There may be some help on the horizon. Mavis says Federated Farmers is working with the Primary ITO to investigate options for training. Alan is looking out of the district and even overseas to find staff. Aria says Mullins Shearing prefers to train their own shearers controlling both skills and work culture. She says attitude is everything.

"If you have the right attitude leave the rest to us," she said.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

3 Places to craft your very own gin in New Zealand

05 Jul 07:00 PM
Opinion

Vege tips: Why you should keep a gardening diary

05 Jul 05:00 PM
The Country

Worm woes: Tackling sheep parasites in the 1890s

05 Jul 05:00 PM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

3 Places to craft your very own gin in New Zealand

3 Places to craft your very own gin in New Zealand

05 Jul 07:00 PM

NZ has around 150 small-batch gin distilleries. Make your own at these 3 spots.

Opinion: Are we there yet? The evolution of the great Kiwi Road Trip

Opinion: Are we there yet? The evolution of the great Kiwi Road Trip

05 Jul 05:00 PM
Worm woes: Tackling sheep parasites in the 1890s

Worm woes: Tackling sheep parasites in the 1890s

05 Jul 05:00 PM
Vege tips: Why you should keep a gardening diary

Vege tips: Why you should keep a gardening diary

05 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP