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

New Zealand's red meat sector launches campaign to address worker shortage

The Country
5 Aug, 2021 02:00 AM3 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

Photo / Supplied

Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's meat processing and exporting sector has launched a campaign to help address the industry's chronic shortage of employees.

The "Meat your career" website aims to highlight the wide range of opportunities available in the sector and shift the historic perceptions of what working in the industry is like.

The website includes videos featuring people working in the industry talking about their roles, a description of the types of positions available, and guidance on remuneration.

The recruitment drive is underpinned by a social media campaign targeting potential employees and making them aware of the opportunities in the sector.

The Meat Industry Association (MIA) developed the campaign.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"The industry is about 2000 workers short and this results in reduced production and robs New Zealand of important export revenue," the association's chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said.

The campaign was focused on letting Kiwis know that the sector was innovative, progressive and at the cutting-edge of food manufacturing, Karapeeva said.

"Our people are world leaders in producing and exporting quality and nutritious food to more than 100 markets across the globe. We offer a range of exciting roles, competitive salaries, strong career pathways and an incredibly diverse workforce."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva. Photo / Supplied
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva. Photo / Supplied

There were roles for people without any formal qualifications or experience, as well as those who had completed training, or tertiary and post-graduate study, Karapeeva said.

"We have graduates working in many areas of the industry including sales and marketing,
international trade, communications, IT, new product development and food science. There are strong career paths to enable graduates to progress from entry level to more senior and management roles."

There were also opportunities in processing for people of different ages, stages of life and levels of experience, "from school leavers to those looking for a career change or a return to the workplace."

Full training was provided in entry level roles, leading to formal NZQA qualifications and there was potential to progress to leadership or supervisory roles, as well as apprenticeships, Karapeeva said.

Discover more

Forestry conversion data shows carbon offset limits needed, says Beef+Lamb

04 Aug 02:30 AM

Red meat sector exports worth close to $1b in June

02 Aug 01:00 AM

Women discuss success and support in the meat sector

26 Jul 02:30 AM
Kahu

Māori sheep and beef farmers encouraged to enter Ahuwhenua Trophy

28 Jul 03:30 AM

Meat processing workers did a variety of tasks and were relatively well paid - an experienced lead hand could earn a salary comparable to a primary school teacher or registered nurse, Karapeeva said.

The industry was the largest on the job trainer in the country, and people were a valuable resource, she said.

"While we invest heavily in automation and technology, many of the processing tasks need to be done by a person and cannot easily be automated."

The sector directly employs more than 25,000 workers with the vast majority in regional New Zealand, where meat processors are often the largest single employer in many towns.

The red meat sector generated $9.3 billion of exports last year.

Find out more at meatyourcareer.co.nz

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

One dead, three injured in Central Otago ATV accident

20 Jun 02:29 AM
The Country

Tonnes of promise: Angus Bull Week set to make millions

20 Jun 12:00 AM
Premium
The Country

50 years on the ice: How an Olympic gold medal kickstarted a couple's business

19 Jun 11:00 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

 One dead, three injured in Central Otago ATV accident

One dead, three injured in Central Otago ATV accident

20 Jun 02:29 AM

One adult died at the scene and three people suffered minor to moderate injuries.

Tonnes of promise: Angus Bull Week set to make millions

Tonnes of promise: Angus Bull Week set to make millions

20 Jun 12:00 AM
Premium
50 years on the ice: How an Olympic gold medal kickstarted a couple's business

50 years on the ice: How an Olympic gold medal kickstarted a couple's business

19 Jun 11:00 PM
Why a 'cute' pet is now included in a pest management plan

Why a 'cute' pet is now included in a pest management plan

19 Jun 10:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

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