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The Sun
Friday July 27, 2018
Survey probes shortage of workers in Marlborough By Bill McElhinney Marlborough is a great place to live and work, but we need more workers. That’s the message from Wine Marlborough advocacy manager Vance Kerslake, who is calling on businesses across the province to take part in a survey to find out who and what we need. “The wine industry here in Marlborough has been experiencing some very spectacular growth,” Vance says. “But with that growth comes some challenges, particularly around making sure we’ve got enough people to work in the industry and that those people have places to live and the other things in the community they might need like a GP. “So my focus as advocacy manager is mainly on workforce and labour issues and working with the council and government and all the local providers to address those challenges. “Marlborough as a whole is doing well,” Vance says. “We have a growing tourist industry, forestry and aquaculture are busy, but we don’t have enough workers.” The short survey Vance is promoting asks employers about staff turnover and how easy or difficult it is to recruit workers, Vance says. “It seems many employers in Marlborough are struggling to recruit staff. “There is a bit of a myth that suggests there are only temporary and low-paid jobs here. “But in fact there are plenty of well-paid jobs available. “What we don’t have are enough working age people.
GILBERT, Margaret Edith: Passed away on Wednesday July 25 2018. In her 88th year. Much-loved wife of the late Alan William (Bill), dearly loved mother and mother-in-law of Alan and Audrey, Dene and Yvonne, Lee and Dawn, Perry and Stephanie, Lynette and Steve, Ross and Karen. Loved Meg of her 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Messages may be sent to 207 Wither Road East, Blenheim 7201. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Marlborough Stroke Club would be appreciated and may be made at the service or sent to c/- P O Box 275, Blenheim 7240. A funeral service for Margaret will be held at the Mayfield Chapel, cnr Hutcheson and Parker Streets at 2pm on Monday July 30, followed by cremation at the Sowman Crematorium. Respectfully cared for by GEOFFREY T SOWMAN FDANZ Tel 03 578 4719
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Death Notices BENNIE, Roland James: July 19, 2018 HOGG, Michael Geoffrey (Mike): July 11, 2018 JEFCOATE, Lionel Richard: July 17, 2018 NEAL, Graeme John: July 23, 2018 Wine Marlborough advocacy manager Vance Kerslake wants feedback from Marlborough employers.
“And you could come here and earn while you learn with industry training and not rack up a big student debt. “Another issue is a shortage of really affordable housing, which makes it harder to attract people from outside the district. Developer covenants determine the styles of houses being built in Marlborough, Vance says, and currently they won’t deliver affordable housing for those who need it. “Council or central government
are going to have to provide a circuit-breaker because the market is not providing what the local community needs at the moment,” Vance says. “So we want to get some quality information so we can work with the Marlborough District Council, the government and industries to see if we can find solutions.” The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete, Vance says. It is confidential.
The results will be aggregated and will not identify any employers. Only the Wine Marlborough workforce planning and development staff will be able to see the responses. “We would like as many employers in Marlborough as possible to complete the survey,” Vance says. To take part in the survey, visit the Wine Marlborough website.
culture if it became established in the Marlborough Sounds,” says Cynthia, who chaired the panel along with councillor Nadine Taylor and environment committee rural representative Ross Beech An unwanted and notifiable organism, the Mediterranean fanworm can grow up to 80cm long and in dense infestations of up to 1000 worms a square metre. It has a leathery tube from which a single, prominent spiral fan extends. The fan, which can be up to 15cm wide when fully spread, is the worm’s feeding tentacles and can restrict water flow for mussels and oysters. It grows bigger in New Zealand waters than anywhere else in the world due to the temperature and nutrients in the water. The light brown, leathery-looking predator with striped tentacles can be found in Marlborough and Nelson. The panel also recommended
PINE, Allan Henry: July 22, 2018 WAGHORN, Douglas Harold (Doug): Reg. No NZ 44562, Sqd Ldr Rtd RNZAF. July 22, 2018
The Sun
Births This Week Humphrey, Isaac Shaun: July 18, 2018 Moriarty, Tyler Rae Peter: July 16, 2018
Marine invader in council’s sights By Bill McElhinney A sneaky marine pest and an imported grass are two environmental issues for Marlborough. The Marlborough District Council environment committee recently adopted the recommendations of the Regional Pest Management Plan hearings panel to make a new pest management plan for Marlborough. Two key threats the new plan addresses are Chilean needle grass and Mediterranean fanworm. “The new programme for Mediterranean fanworm is the first time this council has addressed a marine pest threat in a pest management plan,” councillor Cynthia Brooks says. “It is here in relatively low numbers so the programme aims to get ahead of it now under an exclusion programme.” “Mediterranean fanworm could pose a real threat to aqua-
death notices
Taylor, Beau: July 8, 2018 Waters, Finn James: July 19, 2018
friday fact A Mediterranean fanworm growing on the propellor shaft of a boat.
a separate project be undertaken over the next 12 months to develop a new programme for wilding conifers. “Submitters to the pest control plan also raised concerns about well-established pests such as possums, stoats, old man’s
beard and feral cats. “This is a different challenge to new threats, and we have recommended that control of these pests is addressed through a new biodiversity strategy,” Cynthia says.
The human nose can remember 50,000 different scents.