Yep, we offer labour services! But we’ve also got a full fleet of machinery and operators, a vineyard management team and a full workshop. Don’t forget our accommodation facilities with housekeeping and reception, as well as an office full of support staff!
There's a lot of bullsh*t out there.
Let's clear it up.
We believe in our industry, our mission, and our people. We're passionate about our work, because we know the positive impact that it has. We see the good every day, and we want to share it far and wide. Over the years, we've heard a lot of good things; about us, our industry, and our people. Unfortunately though, we hear some bad things too. Nobody's perfect, but we can't help but feel frustrated when we hear things that simply aren't true.
We believe in transparency, so we want to share our side of the story. If you agree, help us spread the word. If you don't, we hope you'll ask questions. Give us a call, stop in the office, or send us a message, we're happy to chat.
You may only see the people working with the plants, but there is much more to it. Behind the scenes you’ll find experienced managers, financial analysts, H&S experts, pastoral caretakers, and a dedicated advisory board, just to name a few!
Couldn’t be further from true. This should be obvious in the way that we operate- we prioritise people, quality, and success for all. We re-invest our profits in the business to help it grow because we want to impact as many lives as possible.
Vineyards have mostly been our bread and butter, but we’ve got big plans for the future. We’ve already stepped into other industries such as kiwifruit, pine nuts, garlic, broccoli and medicinal marijuana, and we certainly won’t be stopping there.
We won’t lie, vineyard field work is hard. But too hard? We’ve got a few hundred staff that will tell you that it’s a mental game above all. It’s repetitive and physically challenging, yes, but if you look after your body and really set your mind to it, you’ll find it’s very rewarding.
Our returning seasonal staff are some of the most skilled people in our business. To do field work well you need to understand the science of the vines, and make educated choices on what’s best for them. Our clients will tell you it’s that skill and knowledge that makes all the difference.
Our machinery team? They’re operators, not drivers. They drive, check quality, do maintenance, multitask, and make technical decisions. They’ve got full driving licenses and chemical handling certificates, and they need a wide variety of training. Don’t try and tell us all of that is easy!
Many in our leadership team started in the field first. Viticulture offers career paths to suit a variety of interests from ops management and technical viticulture to winemaking. At Hortus, we’ve also got our accommodation, workshop, and support teams, which gives our staff even more choice!
No, the reverse is true! The RSE scheme was created because the agriculture industries couldn’t find enough Kiwis to get the job done. Now the RSE scheme is creating full-time, permanent roles in New Zealand in labour management, accommodation, and pastoral care services.
There are definitely busy and slow periods throughout the year, but there’s always something to be done! Hortus employs a large team year-round and our seasonal numbers average in the hundreds across the entire year.
New Zealand’s vineyards are actually some of the most mechanised in the world, but the need for labour still remains high. As technology advances, we are seeing more innovations which reduce the need for labour, but it will never be eliminated. There are some things a machine just can’t do!
RSE employers must follow strict requirements, and their workplaces are audited regularly. Employers must provide pastoral care, and accommodation that meets specific standards. Hortus has taken an active role in creating benchmarks that raise the bar further, ensuring standards are not only met but exceeded.
Grapevine growing conditions and quality of care have a massive impact on the quality and flavour of the grapes, which can mean the difference between a good bottle of wine and a bad one. Every job in the vineyard has a direct effect on the end product, so you’d better believe we’re in every sip of your Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s true this was an issue in the past. From 2020, legislation requires employers to take a more active role in solving this problem by using only pre-existing seasonal housing, and working to build or access purpose-built accommodation for their seasonal staff. Our large worker accommodation in Blenheim is a great example.
