“This is knowledge and learning you just can’t pay for.” The young graduate had completed her six-monthly placements at NMIT and forestry company OneFortyOne. Having just started at Port Nelson, she was due to then go to the environmental management company, Nelmac. While hoping exposure to the businesses would increase her chances of getting a permanent job, the scheme also allowed her to identify which aspects of the work she most enjoyed.
Braden Fastier/Stuff
NMIT commerce graduate Selena Tunnicliff (centre), with representatives of the new Graduate Programme for the Nelson Tasman region, from left Jenny Van Workum, OneFortyOne, Tony Macfarlane, NMIT, Abby Kuyk, Nelmac, Russell Manning NTIN, Julie Baxendine, Intepeople, Nicky Dowling, Port Nelson, and Kirsten Thorp NRDA.
Paynter was “terrified” for the upcoming apple season, with picking beginning next month. The stonefruit season had been a successful one, he said, as the timing worked perfectly for students who were on their summer holidays, but the same couldn’t be said about the apple season. “It’s the backpackers we miss the most. Although they would only stay for about a month, they were consistent.” It was hard to convince potential workers from outside the region to move to Hawke’s Bay, he said.
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Yummy Fruit Company general manager Paul Paynter said he’s “terrified” to think about the upcoming apple season.