Out of the woolshed

President of the NZ Shearing Contractors Association, Mark Barrowcliffe believes wool will still have its day, although admits the industry is currently battling the perfect storm. However, he is optimistic New Zealand will ride out the low wool price and shearer shortage.

New Zealand currently has around 1,500 shearers with many following the worldwide circuit — the key to consistent work is ending up in the right place of the world at the right time to catch the seasonal shearing peaks. With COVID-19 affecting the ability for shearers and shearing gangs to travel freely from country to country, the reality of a staffing shortage is beginning to show face and is expected to build throughout the main summer shear. Mark predicts the shortfall to be around 60 shearers, which at over 200 sheep a day over 4 or 5 months is a big tally of unshorn sheep. “Some of the shortage will be made up by Kiwis remaining here, but most of them would have followed the season and returned home anyway. Compounding the issue is the shortage

| The reality of a staffing shortage is beginning to show face and is expected to build throughout the main summer shear. of shearers in Australia, meaning Australians are paying a premium for shearing which makes it hard for New Zealand to compete for staff. “The only thing holding Kiwi shearers in New Zealand is that they can’t easily get home and could have unpaid time and costs in quarantine. We are lucky our shearers and shed hands are family-orientated as that helps keep them here too." Despite the shortage of shearers, wool-handlers and pressers, there is an opportunity to train locals or displaced workers. More women becoming involved in shearing is also helping the skill shortage and the recent record-breaking shears by groups of women around the country is testament to the ability and skill available within the country. Mark says shearers and shed hands are a resilient bunch and working around the COVID-19 Alert Levels was just another unpredictability to add to the list. “We are happy to follow the protocols and processes in place for all levels. We are there to do the job safely for the animal, for the farmer and for the team of five million.”

The wool opportunity

Mark says it can be disheartening to see the farmers getting paid minimal value for their wool but is optimistic that the worth of the fibre will rise and sees it as an opportunity to look at value-add and new ideas. “We can’t keep producing plastic and throwing it away. Recyclable, reusable, sustainable wool and other fibres will have their day. “COVID-19 has changed it up with food being the only real commodity in demand. But this is also a chance to sort our own in-house business out and

| “Those who are involved in shearing love the industry, it’s not one you can be in if you don’t like the job.”

move forward to a more sustainable marketing and processing model that presents New Zealand as a united wool front. “We need to take the learnings from other primary industries and Merino wool marketing and apply that to strong/crossbred wool which has its own strengths and properties.”

Take a day

Despite the challenges of the industry Mark says the New Zealand Shearing Association represents a very cool group of people. “Our people are our tools. Our strapline is ‘Pride in people, product and country’. Those who are involved in shearing love the industry, it’s not one you can be in if you don’t like the job.” In times of intensity it is also vital that those in the industry look after themselves. The New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association has partnered with ACC to promote the online safety tool Tahi Ngātahi. “It’s about identifying that it’s a busy and challenging time, but workers need to look after themselves, stay fit, hydrated, healthy and safe. The shearing shed is a hard workplace anyway and a shortage of staff could lead to overload and that can have an accumulative effect on people’s wellbeing. This is about the ambulance at the top of the cliff rather than the bottom.” Mark also encourages those in the industry to have a break, take a day off and particularly to support the A&P Show circuit. “New Zealand is the best place in the world to shear a sheep and shearers from the United Kingdom and Europe love to have a crack at completing against Kiwis on the show circuit. If they are not in the country that could really compromise the shows. “My message to shearers is ‘I know it is a busy time, but take a day off, shear at the show, it’s like swimming, you’ve got to take a breath sometime’.”

*At the time of writing the NZ Government was not allowing shearers into NZ as part of a COVID-19 essential service. | Recyclable, reusable, sustainable wool and other fibres will have their day.