News & Events
Rural Contractors News
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Rural Contractors NZ is the voice for the $1.5b rural contracting industry accounting for 0.8% of GDP and 0.9% of national employment. Source: Infometrics 2018 report available here
RCNZ media releases and comments below – or contact our Communications advisor Brendon Burns (0274 305501)
Media Comments
Brief to Incoming Ministers
Many organisations prepare BIMs for their relevant incoming Minister. Unusually, Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen has chosen to openly share his to the new Ministers of Agriculture, Immigration, Transport and Environment Dear Ministers, Let’s get straight to the...
Feed supply concerns emerging in some areas
Some parts of central and upper North Island may be 15% down on maize production this season, says Rural Contractors NZ. Julie Clark from Otorahanga and Helen Slattery from Matamata represent members from Taupo north on the RCNZ Board. Helen, who is RCNZ President,...
HanzonJob app widens scope
The HanzonJobs app has been updated and is already in use for the 2023/24 season of rural contracting. Its developer Richard Houston says while the core focus remains the work done on the land for rural contractors, the wider benefits of the app are starting to be...
Eyes like saucers for first Gateway students in rural contracting
“They had eyes like saucers,” is how Primary ITO | Te Pūkenga describes participants in the first-ever programme to put secondary students into a Gateway programme with rural contractors. In late August, four pupils from two Hamilton schools visited four rural...
RCNZ and UK equivalent work on labour exchanges
Rural Contractors New Zealand Inc (RCNZ) and its UK equivalent, the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) have launched a new partnership to try and help solve the labour shortage gap for contractors. ‘Covid and closed borders severed a lot of the...
Rural contractors step up to address agrichemical risks
Rural contractors have formed an industry leadership group at their annual conference to make farmers and growers more aware of the benefits of using accredited agrichemical contractors and the risks of not using qualified professionals. Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ)...
Jessica is the Rural Contractor Trainee of the Year
A 25 year old woman from Pahiatua who gave up working in a local accountancy office was tonight named the Rural Contractors NZ Trainee for 2023. Jessica Bills grew up on her parents dairy farm and her proud parents Gary and Amanda Bills were with her last night at the...
Convince townies rural sector not the enemy, MP told
An appeal to address the urban/rural divide was made at the opening day of the Rural Contractors NZ conference in Invercargill. Former RCNZ President, Southland’s John Hughes asked National’s Agriculture & Trade spokesperson Todd McClay to make this a priority,...
Rural Contractors and Nufarm add ink to long link
Global agrichemical player Nufarm has signed a new 5-year partnership plan with Rural Contractors NZ, announced at their annual conference in Invercargill today. Both say it recognises their history in working together as well as the need to address increasing demands...
Alligator weed is spreading as major research programme starts
Rural contractors and regional councils are among those supporting a new AgResearch programme on invasive alligator weed which has plagued northern farmers and growers for many years and is now spreading south. Dr Trevor James, a senior AgResearch scientist leading...
Golden Bay contractor raises $50k for flood regions – challenges others to match
The organisers of a community effort in Golden Bay which raised nearly $50,000 to assist those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle are now encouraging other rural communities to adopt their model. Rural contractors Stacey Strange and her husband Tristan brought The Farmers...
Loving the craic and mastering big machines
Leanne Hartnett, a 25 year old Irish woman doing her first season in New Zealand as a rural contractor, is loving the life here – though it took a while to get used to the size of machinery she’s required to drive. “You have to drive way bigger machines over here. We...