Labour List MP based in Rangitata, Jo Luxton, organised a visit by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor (right) to the New Zealand Sock Company on Friday, represented by managing director Euan Sparrow. Photo Susan SandysNew Zealand Sock Company managing director Euan Sparrow was preaching to the converted when he took the Minister of Agriculture on a tour yesterday.

Damien O’Connor viewed production under way at the busy 24/7 manufacturing plant, alongside Labour List MP based in Rangitata Jo Luxton and Ashburton District Council management, mayor and councillors.

O’Connor said he was wearing socks made by the business, something he had done every day since hearing the company’s international sales manager Gabrielle Simpson address a group of industry leaders about innovation in agriculture at Fielding two years ago.

“I was taken by the story and have been wearing New Zealand Sock Company socks ever since, I literally wear them every day,” O’Connor said.

He had been inspired by innovative uses of not just fine wool, but also coarse wool and crossbred wool.

The company proved success could come from manufacture in New Zealand using New Zealand materials, and that Kiwi entrepreneurs did not always need to rush offshore for core competency.

The minister’s visit coincided with the day Sparrow was advertising for 12 new casual staff, to add to his team of about 50 at the premises.

However, it was not all smiles and bouquets, and Sparrow took the opportunity to tell the minister about his ongoing battle to attract and retrain skilled staff.

Sparrow said two of his staff had recently had their visas extended, however, there was no guarantee they would be able to stay long-term.

Government needed to allow more highly skilled workers to get their visas extended and obtain New Zealand residency, he said.

“It’s just ongoing, a nightmare,” Sparrow told the Guardian.

O’Connor said loosening criteria around skilled migrant labour was a daily discussion for the Government, which was trying to work through all the challenges of inward and outward flow of labour through this period of uncertainty due to the pandemic.

Government was trying to work on polices fair to migrant workers wanting either to remain in the country or go home, but also make sure New Zealand had enough people here to fill jobs.

At this point the country was flooded with Kiwis wanting to come back home and the number of places in quarantine was limited.

And given the hard work Kiwis had done to keep the country Covid-free, the vast majority wanted the Government to retain the highest measure of border controls.

“We are looking to extend quarantine capacity, but there are requirements, around security, and access to healthcare, and oversight, which means you can’t just do it everywhere,” O’Connor said.

Prior to visiting the sock factory, the party toured another Ashburton success story, Luisetti Seeds.

Luxton organised the visit, inviting the minister to Ashburton to view the two primary industry-based companies.

By Susan Sandys © The Ashburton Guardian -  8 August 2020