Winter 2016

BULLETIN

At Greenlea we believe that the future of New Zealand red meat is very bright. As a country we find ourselves in a most enviable position. Around the world consumers are demanding safe, natural and nutritious food. Our story could not be better … grass fed, hormone free, and antibiotics used safely and sensibly. In the United States the demand for meat with this label is expected to grow by as much as 10% in just the next year. Also important to many consumers is New Zealand’s strong position on animal welfare. Meanwhile, science is painting a favourable picture of our grass fed beef … it’s leaner and it contains more vitamins, more essential amino acids and more “good” fats

www.greenlea.co.nz www.greenlea.co.nz

ISSUE 12 : Winter 2016 ISSUE 12 : Winter 2016

than its grain-fed cousin. AgResearch is currently conducting science on the complex lipids found in grass fed beef … it is proposed that these lipids may actually work to lower “bad” fats.

We are also in an enviable position in terms of the trust that overseas consumers have in New Zealand made products.

In the “Good Country” index, New Zealand ranks fifth out of 125 countries. New Zealand is the only non-European country in the top 10. Much of our positioning has to do with our ranking on the data point of “planet and climate”.

Our “clean, green” image is a motivator

for consumers who want product grown in a Zealand. The affluent, discerning consumer “safe” environment. (For more information see is our target market for these products as we goodcountry.org) introduce this range for export. As has been said by many, while we as a country can only feed 40 Now is our time to step up and take advantage of million people, we should aim to be feeding the these rich opportunities. For the team at Greenlea wealthiest 40 million. We already have significant this means getting more for our products by interest in these products from our overseas promoting their natural attributes … grass fed customers. There is certainly a growing interest and free from hormones, drugs, chemicals and in many countries, where there is distrust of the genetic modification. Our recently launched on- supply chain, for products completely grown and farm quality assurance programme is designed packaged in the country of origin. to support and validate these claims. An equally important message from consumers is that if On a final note, Greenlea believes that there is you promote it, you had better be able to prove room for collaboration amongst New Zealand it. A major supermarket chain in Europe recently meat companies in promoting our country of learned this lesson the hard way when they origin product overseas. We are inspired by the promoted special “farm” brands, but the farms story of “The Family of 12” … twelve New Zealand were fictional. wineries who have formed a partnership to promote each other’s wines in foreign markets.

Greenlea also intends to capture more value at Beef + Lamb New Zealand has developed a new home by offering our retail-ready range to our market strategy, and we support this approach. overseas customers. Starting last year we tested This strategy provides an opportunity for us to these products and our new-look packaging collaborate in market with the “New Zealand red at Farro Fresh and Moore Wilson stores in New meat” brand. The Red Meat Profit Partnership PGP programme shows that we can work to common “NZ Inc.” goals, so long may this continue!

Four years in and we have increased service, pick-ups, capacity and price to farmers. Animal welfare is a priority with short transport distances, experienced stockmen, gentle handling and daily monitoring and auditing by onsite MPI veterinarians. We offer pre-arranged, regular pick-ups.

Committed. Competitive. Compassionate.

Call your local Greenlea rep or sign up online at Greenlea.co.nz

www.greenlea.co.nz

Winter … Yea right! The weather is about as consistent as some of our competitors. As I write this column in May, we are having 20 degree days and hanging out for rain in some regions. Now about that consistency … have a look at your pricing on those kill sheets and see just how consistent we have been over the peak flow of cattle. No 30 cpk a week drops from the Green team! Or down 20 on Friday and back up 15 or 20 on Monday or Tuesday. Consistency, good yields, fair pricing … well, that’s what our farmer suppliers keep telling us, and I guess the increased volumes through the door year after year backs that up. No flash Harrys in this team just a good bunch of honest, fair meat men and ladies returning the best possible result.

As the weather cools down,

fish get harder to catch, the deer start to roar (no, not the dear inside!), and every time you grab the remote, rugby is on the tv … yes, it’s Fieldays time again!

Fieldays!! Yes, we started and others have followed. That’s all good … we like being compared. No big budgets just good, sound advice. You won’t find the Tui Girls or the Naked Chef at the Greenlea tent. You will find on one of our four days Kelvin or Des, Radi or Clark or one of the other buyers. For Greenlea, Fieldays are about showing the true strength of the company back benchers, plant staff, administrative personnel, marketing, shipping, documentation, the executive team and directors. Yes, these behind the scenes workers are the true strength of Greenlea. So, come put your feet up, enjoy a cuppa, and say “gidday”!

Greenlea rescue helicopter award winning mountain rescue The Greenlea Team showed their appreciation for the greenlea rescue helicopter crew by joining them at the NZSAR Awards this month and honoured them with a longstanding greenlea tradition. read about this amazing daring rescue over the page.

The knife, know as a “Dick” knife, is made by a German cutlery manufacturer Friedrich Dick and are known by their logo name of F.Dick.

The company specialises in butcher’s tools and are used exclusivley by Greenlea’s butchers.

Bruce “Mudgey” Mudgway from Greenlea presented Barry Shepherd and the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter crew with a knife and coin.

This is an ancient tradition - the coin signifies that the knife is given in friendship and the recipient can accept the gift without a sense of threat.

www.flightforlife.co.nz

winner of NZSAR certificate of achievement for their outstanding rescue of four people from the steep slopes of Mt Ngauruhoe

Greenlea rescue helicopter award winning mountain rescue The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter team have been presented a NZSAR Certificate of Achievement for Operational Activity in recognition of a daring rescue when they were called to assist in the search and recovery of four missing hikers in the Tongariro National Park.

The rescue; carried out in fading light and freezing conditions was the ultimate example of teamwork and coordination.

The hikers, who had been caught out by the setting sun and the cold conditions, were located on the western slopes of Mt Ngauruhoe.

The steep mountain slopes turned into a solid sheet of ice, so slick and hard that all four experienced and well-equipped hikers fell. They were all separated and perched on the icy slopes between about 6500 and 7000 feet in altitude, sustaining injuries ranging from cuts and bruises from the razor sharp ice, to fractured bones and the onset of hypothermia.

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter flew in two RARO teams onto the side of the mountain and hover-loaded them out onto the treacherous icy slopes in the dark.

Photographer Mark Coote

The RARO team performed the difficult and extremely dangerous task of trekking to and stabilising the injured parties, before anchoring themselves to the steep slope to allow for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter to return and pluck the injured from the icy slopes one by one.

Base Manager and Pilot Nat Every said, ‘This was well-run, highly organized rescue, involving LANDSAR Turangi, NZ Police SAR, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, St John Ambulance Taupo and the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter resulted in the safe recovery of each of the four hikers. Without Greenlea’s support this mission, and many others, may not have been possible’.

Greenlea Managing Director, Tony Egan said, ‘Greenlea is privileged to work with the Philips Search & Rescue Trust in supporting the Taupo-based rescue helicopter. We congratulate the men who participated in this heroic rescue, and we thank all of those who generously provide their time and service to provide these often life-saving missions.

Philips Search and Rescue Trust, operators of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, are extremely grateful to Greenlea Premier Meats. Without their generous support this mission may not have been possible.

In 2015 alone, With the support of the communities they serve the Philips Search and Rescue Trust rescue helicopters carried out 1478 potentially life saving missions. support your local rescue helicopter by donating at rescue.org.nz

Photographer Mark Coote