Huawhenua Vegetables

Labour shortage is an ongoing challenge for the industry, and there are not enough people working in the industry to keep up with the level of work that is required. There is high demand for entry-level roles, and limited career progression due to the flat organisational structure of the horticulture industries.  

The pathway into leadership roles is unclear, with not enough skilled leadership staff in the industry. There is a need for leadership training to support people to progress into supervisory roles and project management level positions. 

While the industry is embracing more advanced technology, the existing qualifications do not necessarily align with these changes. It can be a challenge to upskill staff and attract skilled people into roles that require more technological understanding and experience. 

The Vegetable industry is the most ethnically diverse industry of the food and fibre sector and supporting a multi-cultural workforce is focus for the industry. 

This is our plan to address the vocational education and training opportunities that arose from our engagement, research and analysis. It includes real projects that we are committed to delivering, with most of these spanning across some or all Muka Tangata industries. Our Projects have replaced our previous “Roadmap Actions” and present a consolidated view of our mahi. Some of the previous roadmap actions have been completed or closed out following a review of our work programme and engagement with industry on the priority of these actions.