Summer 2021

IN TH IS ED ITI ON

Bulletin SUMMER 2021 EDITION

+ GREG’S COLUMN + PHONE SYSTEM UPDATE + MORRINSVILLE IBEX

From the team at Greenlea

202 1 HAS B EE N A G O O D YE A R ‘Yeah Gidday’ ... I wonder what Fred Dagg would make of 2021?

all agree that with the benefit of hindsight the invention of crocs was probably a mistake!

He would probably say we have been a ‘bit green behind the ears’ when it comes to global warming and ‘couldn’t organise a piss up at a brewery’ when it comes to Covid.

His unofficial Xmas carol about three kings arriving ‘one on a tractor, two in a car’ now has a canoe thanks to ‘He Waka Eke Noa’ (we are all in this canoe together), and the manger no longer has a cow in it or a ute parked outside.

But we still get to cut trees down to celebrate the occasion which kind of evens things up! So, let’s celebrate Xmas and have a BBQ while we still can!!

I think he would acknowledge Auckland ‘taking one for the team’. Tamaki Makaurau, translates to ‘desired by many’ … which may seem a little less so when the gates open, and we see the biggest stampede ‘since Adam was a cowboy’. Fred’s famous catch cry ‘that’ll be the door’ could be a risky business even in`Taihape’!

Have a great Festive Season from all of us here at Greenlea. We hope you have enjoyed the Bulletin.

We could’ve all ‘had a dose of the flu or even pleurisy’, but thanks to Pfizer, we will stay upright in our gumboots. Fred might point out that social distancing certainly seemed to work when ‘one of the Trev’s took off his gumboot’, and we might

GREENLEA.CO.NZ

U PGR A D E TO G R E E N LE A P HO N E SYSTE M 1

PLEASE NOTE: Over the month of December, Greenlea will be upgrading our phone system. You will notice a change when you call us. An automatic greeting will ask you to...

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• enter the three-digit extension of the person you are trying to reach, • OR dial ‘1’ for Livestock, • OR ‘2’ for the Greenlea Butcher Shop or Restore.

If you need help, remain on the line, and our receptionist will assist you.

GREG’S CO LU M N

GREENLEA.CO.NZ

Plenty of talk around farming communities of the outlook for the red meat sector. Some factors weighing on my mind are, getting product to market and Covid cases affecting production through an outbreak on plant. The general market is showing positive signs. Asia and North America are seeking product, and the NZ dollar is staying at relatively comfortable levels. It remains to be seen if the processors can continue to get product to market without increases to distribution costs affecting farm gate pricing and if plants can maneuver around employees getting Covid to minimize loss of production.

Also, as an industry, we are working with what I describe as a “shrinking paddock”. More and more farming land is being absorbed into other land use opportunities. This shrinkage will result in less cattle of all species and put more emphasis on the relationship that Greenlea have with you, our suppliers. The industry is approaching a point where the farmer is over serviced from an Ag support position. I want to ensure the service that Greenlea provides you continues to accommodate your needs.

I would challenge you to remember a more interesting time in which to be living and working. Covid making its way through the country, vaccine passports, traffic light systems, lockdowns, three waters, carbon emissions and record milk and meat prices. However, some things will always be the same.

The weather makes its mark; the feed grows or does not; cows are milked; sheep and beef are grown; and at the appropriate time, the animal is moved off farm. Throw all the regulation, compliance, pandemics, and lockdowns you like into the mix; it will not take away from those facts. What is the point of this, you ask? Well, it is a little reminder to me, and maybe to you, the reader, that we are consistently producing word class products that support our country, despite all that nature and regulators throw at us. In short, well done, and remember to take some time, talk to some of your farming mates, or even a stranger, and take it in.

All the best from the Greenlea livestock team. Have a fantastic and safe Christmas and New Year.

MO RR I NSV I L L E COO LT E C In 2008, Peter Egan’s dream of installing the world’s first IBEX tunnel at our Hamilton plant was made a reality. The system proved its worth by improving health & safety, energy efficiency, product quality (through less carton damage) and inventory control. The tunnel takes the natural, random fall of cartons from the various manufacturing departments (more than 200 specifications on any given day) and sorts them while freezing them to -18°C or less. It then delivers a pallet load to be automatically palletised, wrapped and labelled for export.

Watching the system at work has been described as a giant’s Rubix cube being solved! Essentially, no human hands touch a carton from the time it leaves the boning room until it leaves on a pallet on the front of a forklift.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer of the IBEX

Essentially, no human hands touch a carton from the time it leaves the boning room until it leaves on a pallet on the front of a forklift. system was a victim of the global financial crisis. Despite that, it has always been Peter’s ambition to develop and build a similar system at Morrinsville. Greenlea called on the skills and capabilities of two of our New Zealand based contractors to design an IBEX system for Morrinsville. They rose to the challenge and have taken the learnings from Hamilton to develop an even more sophisticated version of sorting through a Cooltec tunnel... a truly lights out, fully automatic freezing and sorting system.

The project, when began this year, is Greenlea’s single largest capital expenditure since buying the Morrinsville plant from Waikato Beef Packers in 1997. The new tunnel will be commissioned in March or April of 2022 and is Phase 1 of a 2 stage Morrinsville upgrade. Stay tuned to see what comes next!

GREENLEABUTCHER.CO.NZ

Alan will celebrate precious family time this Christmas - thanks to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter The Christmas holidays are always extra special for Alan Hurford and his family. It’s not only a time to celebrate the joy of being together, it’s also when they reflect with gratitude on the critical Rescue Helicopter flight that saved Alan’s life.

What began as a fun day out for Alan in January 2015, riding his motorbike with fellow members of the Hamilton Motorcycle Club, almost ended in tragedy. The last thing he remembers is pulling into a service station before heading home along State Highway 1.

Alan didn’t make it home that night. After colliding with a milk tanker, he woke up in the Intensive Care Unit in Waikato Hospital two days later, disoriented, unable to move, covered in bandages, tubes, wires and surrounded by beeping monitors.

He spent the next three months recovering from his horrific accident.

“Alan is testament to the fact that the rescue helicopter saves lives. We will never be able to thank them enough for what they did that night” - Alan’s wife, Daralyn.

The Christmas holiday period is fast approaching and New Zealanders will be out and about, exploring and adventuring and sadly we know that your rescue crew is likely to be busier than ever. Your helicopter will always be there, responding to missions and making sure people like Alan can return home to their family. Enjoy your holidays, but please take care on the roads and stay safe.

Almost seven years on, Alan says the moment he woke up felt like a dream. “I didn’t think it was real. I couldn’t remember how I got there. Then I saw Daralyn’s face and realised something had gone very, very wrong.”

Alan truly owes his life to the rescue helicopter and the time-critical, split-second decisions made that night. Rescue Helicopter Medical Director, Muir attended to help. The flight time to the accident scene was just 9 minutes. Pilot, Dan kept the helicopter running, because every minute mattered.

WANT YOUR VERY OWN RESCUE HELICOPTER? You can purchase your very own Greenlea Rescue Helicopter! Perfect for someone who’s been rescued by the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, has a passion for aviation, or just wants to donate to charity and receive a gift back. These are available to purchase via our website link below.

We have a limited number of replica helicopters, so get in quick!

RESCUE.ORG.NZ/DONATE/#SECTION-MERCHANDISE The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is dedicated to serving the central North Island community 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Thank you to Greenlea Premier Meats and their farmers for continuing to support the lifesaving service of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. You’re helping us touch the lives of many people.

Discover more and donate today | 0800 11 10 10 |

rescue.org.nz |

@rescuehelicoptersNZ |

info@rescue.org.nz @rescuehelicoptersNZ