New Zealand

[stewart]

Another contactor complaining about no staff.


They don't help themselves sometimes. Comments like new people would have to spend 2 months with another driver. Really?
Are the Irish drivers he usually gets really "specialist Ag drivers" or just keen lads that are cheap.
There's plenty of operators in NZ that would do the job if it was made more attractive.
Lines like we want to have people allowed in until we train kiwis sound good but they're not going to do it.
Maybe these places should put more effort into creating full time roles or annualised hours etc. After all they expect people to drive gear "valued between $500,000 and $1 million.

Really? Where are they?

 

[kiwi pom]

Really? Where are they?

Staff?

They're around, generally doing something else, you have to compete and attract them. There's perhaps not as many Kiwis in the US this year or going over to OZ for harvest.
How does the likes of Fonterra get seasonal staff or Fulton Hogan when they hire temp resealing crews etc?
I'd assume Forager drivers and other mainline tasks are done with fulltime staff (they really should be).
Young lads on the less skilled jobs get experience but then seem to end up going elsewhere into other work, why's that I wonder?

 

[kiwi pom]

In that situation, the thing to do would be fly in the people you want, swab test (PCR) them, obtain the results within 48 hours (as happens in the UK) and you will know if they have the virus or not with about as accurate a picture as you are going to get.

The problem is no one is allowed in unless they are Kiwi's or permanent residents. The borders shut.
Actually that's not strictly true there are some exceptions but with many unemployed its unlikely the government will let anyone in to drive a tractor or truck.

 

[stewart]

Staff?

They're around, generally doing something else, you have to compete and attract them. There's perhaps not as many Kiwis in the US this year or going over to OZ for harvest.
How does the likes of Fonterra get seasonal staff or Fulton Hogan when they hire temp resealing crews etc?
I'd assume Forager drivers and other mainline tasks are done with fulltime staff (they really should be).
Young lads on the less skilled jobs get experience but then seem to end up going elsewhere into other work, why's that I wonder?

Forage drivers and main line tasks need full time staff that are going to turn up on time and be drug free. There are not too many Kiwis around that fill the criteria, which is most unfortunate.

 

[kiwi pom]

Forage drivers and main line tasks need full time staff that are going to turn up on time and be drug free. There are not too many Kiwis around that fill the criteria, which is most unfortunate.

If they're fulltime (as they should be ) then they already have staff, so just need temps for rakes, trailers and wrappers etc.

In other parts of the world Kiwi operators have a fairly good reputation.

Agree on the drug thing though.

The problem is there's not much incentive to keep someone fulltime and pay them a good rate if there's a dozen new keen guys from overseas that will do it for beer money and the experience.

This year the boots on the other foot.

 

[stewart]

If they're fulltime (as they should be ) then they already have staff, so just need temps for rakes, trailers and wrappers etc.

In other parts of the world Kiwi operators have a fairly good reputation.

Agree on the drug thing though.

The problem is there's not much incentive to keep someone fulltime and pay them a good rate if there's a dozen new keen guys from overseas that will do it for beer money and the experience.

This year the boots on the other foot.

Kiwis that travel to work overseas do have a good reputation as do the Irish and other nationalities that travel to work in NZ, the common theme amongst them is that they have cut the apron strings to experience the big wide world, as such they tend to have a bit more about them and more willing to get on with whatever job they take on.
All our full time staff are kiwis, there is certainly an incentive to pay the good ones well and keep them on, good staff are sought after and not easy to find, we also employ a variety of Nationalities at different times of the year, all of them are paid a decent rate, certainly more than mere beer money. Pay peanuts get monkeys.

 

[nivilla1982]

Coronavirus: First outbreak in New Zealand after 102 days sees Auckland put into lockdown

Auckland will be placed into "Level Three" restrictions after four people from one family in the city contracted COVID-19.

news.sky.com

 

[Ashtree]

That all sounds well and good in theory, however NZ regulations are a lot stricter that the UKs, it is two weeks mandatory managed isolation, effectively you are locked in a hotel room for two weeks, swabs and testing are done at 3 days and again at 11, if it is a positive test then you are moved to another isolation centre where the positive cases are kept.
A single test done when people fly in is not accurate enough, I also don't think anyone is allowed in the country unless they have a Kiwi passport or are a permanent resident.
Labour has been a real problem for several years and is not going to get any better for quite some time.

Am I correct in saying, IF you fly in and do the two week managed isolation, you also have to pay five thousand dollars for the privilege of the isolation?

 

[stewart]

Am I correct in saying, IF you fly in and do the two week managed isolation, you also have to pay five thousand dollars for the privilege of the isolation?

Three thousand dollars for those that leave New Zealand after the regulations come into force, or you are visiting for less than 90 days.

 

[kiwi pom]

Well we have the Covid back, no surprises there. @stewart Keep it up in the North Island please.

What do you make of the fact that if you test positive you will be taken into a quarantine facility whether you like it or not?
Apparently they have the legal power to do it.
Didn't realise we were in China
There may be trouble ahead.

 

[stewart]

Well we have the Covid back, no surprises there. @stewart Keep it up in the North Island please.

What do you make of the fact that if you test positive you will be taken into a quarantine facility whether you like it or not?
Apparently they have the legal power to do it.
Didn't realise we were in China
There may be trouble ahead.

I hope it stays up in Auckland with the Jafas.

 

[nivilla1982]

What is the situation in NZ now?

 

[caveman]

I hope it stays up in Auckland with the Jafas.

What is a Jafa?

 

[Courier]

What is a Jafa?

“Jaffa” = seedless / no balls.

Apart from Auckland NZ returns to Alert Level 1 from Alert level 2 as from tomorrow morning.
Clear and concise messaging from the Authorities as opposed to our mixed messages here in UK.

 

[stewart]

What is a Jafa?

Just another fu@king Aucklander

 

[kiwi pom]

“Jaffa” = seedless / no balls.

Apart from Auckland NZ returns to Alert Level 1 from Alert level 2 as from tomorrow morning.
Clear and concise messaging from the Authorities as opposed to our mixed messages here in UK.View attachment 908879

Level 4 is the only way to have a chance to eliminate but it needed to be done when cases were still low.
I think I'm right in saying it needed a rapid law change to make it legal? Before that, it's since been found that the government acted unlawfully for the first 9 days of lockdown but everyone has been very quiet about it.

It wouldn't have been possible in many countries.

Anyway back to level 1 today

 

[stewart]

“Jaffa” = seedless / no balls.

Apart from Auckland NZ returns to Alert Level 1 from Alert level 2 as from tomorrow morning.
Clear and concise messaging from the Authorities as opposed to our mixed messages here in UK.View attachment 908879

Are you back in the UK or still in NZ?

 

[Courier]

Are you back in the UK or still in NZ?

Came back to UK at beginning of May ().

 

[stewart]

Came back to UK at beginning of May ().

You have my sympathies.