WORK

The Far North District’s employment profile is forged by a pioneering heritage that today sees agriculture, forestry and fishing embodying the lion’s share of industry.

Close forerunners are the retail trade, education/training and health care/social assistance sectors. Therefore, the majority of the Te Taitokerau workforce is, at once, both rigorous and restorative.

Leading health promoting workplaces are those which go beyond the minimal measures of workplace health measured by company policies and legislative guidelines. They are the settings which create supportive environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice, provide opportunities and experiences that enable staff and their families and whanau to develop knowledge and skills for personal wellbeing and create partnerships in the wider community to support health and wellbeing.

Far North businesses are already prioritizing their staff and whānau, recognizing workplace wellbeing as a significant determinant of business success. Some of these include:

• Waipapa Pine, supreme winners at the Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards who exemplify industry leadership and respect for the environment

• Te Hiku Media, punching above its weight in bringing to Far North communities local news dedicated to upholding te reo me ōna tikanga Māori

• The Warehouse Group and its Kaitāia, Kaikohe and Waipapa locations engaged in the nationwide wellness programme for staff that uses the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand's Five Ways to Wellbeing strategies

• The Northland Regional Corrections Facility and its proactivity in designing health and wellbeing concepts for its 300 staff

• Mangonui-based Live Wire Media, who work a strong marketing and media background into fostering other Far North businesses towards reaching the next level in their operations

• The Northland Regional Council, using innovation to provide regional leadership, economic opportunities and integrated infrastructure

• Alzheimers Society Northland, maintaining successful relationships with Far North communities in providing free information and support for all people affected by dementia

• Hone Heke Lodge Flashpackers Kerikeri, lifting the BnB experience in the Bay of Islands with quality accommodation matched by genuine manaakitanga

….and many more.

The Stats

7423 businesses

Median average income is $21,500

81.6% of Far North residents are employed within the district

21.4% of the Far North workforce are managers

Top three business centres are Kerikeri/Waipapa, Kaikohe and Kaitāia