New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. has appointed Gavin Stagg as a Labour Co-ordinator to implement initiatives to ensure the industry has the workers it requires for the 2019 season.

Gavin has been involved in the kiwifruit industry since 2012, working in operations management roles at Mount Pack and Cool Ltd and more recently Birchwood Packhouse Ltd in Tauranga, with a major focus on health and safety. A former NZ Army chef and hospitality industry manager, Gavin has also worked as a recruitment consultant and employment officer and brings more than 20 years’ experience in managing and interacting with people from many countries and walks-of-life.

In his new role, Gavin is responsible for managing seasonal recruitment initiatives in conjunction with growers, contractors and packhouses to ensure as much as possible is done to meet the sector’s worker requirements.

Gavin says he’s looking forward to working with the kiwifruit industry’s partners to help the sector thrive in a period of rapid growth. “NZKGI has a massive challenge to try to ensure we have sufficient workers to get all the fruit off the vines – for this season and all our future ones. I’m excited by the initiatives already underway and the opportunities to build a collaborative response to the labour demands.”

NZKGI CEO Nikki Johnson says Gavin’s appointment is a key part of the organisation’s labour recruitment strategy.  “With the harvest now poised to begin, Gavin will be working closely with the groups we’ve been reaching out to, to support our labour drive, and helping us process the many queries we’re now getting via social media about jobs in the industry.”