News

Back in 2005, we had a lightbulb moment… what if we didn’t just help shepherds find their next job but supported their career paths?

Some traditional farmers scratched their heads and said, “What the hell are you on about?”, but to me, it was clear. If we wanted to attract and retain great people in our industry, we had to start treating them as assets, not liabilities.

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Life on the farm offers plenty of fulfilment, but it also comes with serious risks. From manoeuvring heavy equipment to managing unpredictable animals or dealing with chemicals, staying safe demands constant vigilance. Add to the mix wet and wild weather conditions, and farming can be a very hazardous job! Making safety a top priority and sticking to established safety procedures can dramatically lower the chances of injury.

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If you are an employer, you need to be aware of several changes to KiwiSaver which will come into effect on 1 July 2025, with other changes coming into effect in 2026 and 2028.

Changes effective from 1 July 2025

People aged 16 and 17 will qualify for government contributions, so long as they meet other eligibility requirements. Prior to 1 July 2025, members must be 18 or older to qualify.

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Why Routine Inspections Matter

Routine inspections are about more than just checking the property’s condition. They help landlords maintain property standards, ensure tenant satisfaction, and catch potential issues early.

And yes, landlords must provide a clean and habitable property, however property inspections also provide an opportunity to check that tenants are respecting the property and not using the rental property for any unlawful purpose.

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The details of the increase are:

Adult minimum wage will go up from $23.15 to $23.50 per hour.
Starting-out and training minimum wage will go up from $18.52 to $18.80 per hour.
All rates are before tax and any lawful deductions, for example, PAYE tax, student loan repayment, child support.

How to prepare for the increases:

Update your Payroll Systems to ensure new rates are relevant.

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A performance review, also known as a performance appraisal, is an evaluation of an employee’s job performance. Conducted periodically – typically annually or six-monthly, these reviews assess employees’ achievements, behaviour, and alignment with organisational goals.

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With the introduction of New Zealand’s Health & Safety at Work Act (2015) aimed at managing workplace risks and the pleasing trend towards focusing on workplace wellbeing, most organisations are committed to reducing health and safety incidents and workplace accidents.  One of the key contributors to managing workplace risks is to ensure relevant and fit-for-purpose polices and testing/assessments exist.

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With the end of 2024 and summer fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start conversations with your employees regarding their annual leave entitlements and holidays.

The festive season in NZ being a busy time of the primary sector calendar year means your upcoming discussions may include finalising holiday period work patterns or rosters and negotiating who gets to take time off and when.

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We are delighted to be in our 6th year sponsoring the Rural Directions Hawke’s Bay Shepherd of the Year Award. This award celebrates the achievements of our shepherds, who are a vital link in our primary sector supply chain with their actions directly influencing the quality of product leaving our port.

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It’s out with the old and in with the new as Rural Directions rolls out our refreshed branding this month. The time has come for us to modernise and evolve our brand in preparation for a huge milestone in 2025, where Rural Directions will celebrate our 20-year anniversary!

Over the years we have maintained our grounded values in on-farm recruitment & HR, however, more recently have expanded our focus reaching further beyond the farm gate.

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