A partnership for continual improvement with Pelco
Industry
Fishing
Location
Mount Maunganui
“We need trainers that can deliver to our audience, get their attention and get through to them to help them learn.”
Pelco invests heavily in fisheries biology and management activities to ensure the stocks it fishes are in good health.
Bay of Plenty fishing company Pelco and the EMA have built a strong relationship over the years, collaborating on health and safety, HR advice, leadership training and even governance in the export community. Pelco's People and Relations Manager Rachel Cox explains how the partnership developed.
Overview
A significant Kiwi exporting success story, Māori family-owned fishing business Pelco has operated for more than 25 years in the Bay of Plenty.
It’s one of the largest fishing companies in New Zealand, but it tends to fly under the radar. And despite being an environmentally and locally focused business dedicated to maintaining a thriving fishery for current and future generations, that’s just how the unassuming Rolleston family likes it.
Andy Rolleston founded Pelco in 1996 to target pelagic (midwater) species, such as jack mackerel, blue mackerel, kahawai, skipjack tuna and trevally.
Over 90% of Pelco’s catch is blast-frozen and shipped to various overseas markets, primarily as a healthy and affordable source of protein.
Vertical integration, including owning their own fishing vessels, factory and cold store, have allowed Pelco to control the quality of the fish it harvests – the company can determine how the fish are caught and refrigerated onboard their vessels, how quickly they’re unloaded from the boat, how they’re processed and packaged in chilled conditions, and how rapidly they’re blast frozen.
The whole system is geared towards catching, processing, and freezing the fish as quickly as possible to maintain the best quality.
Pelco uses a fishing method called purse seine, which is considered low-impact, precise and selective. Purse seines are used in the open ocean to target dense schools of single-species pelagic fish. It has no contact with the seabed and has low levels of bycatch (accidental catch of unwanted species).
Two years ago, Pelco recruited a scientist and researcher to look at migratory patterns of the fish species it targets. The collected data helped the company considerably with its commitment to sustainable fishing. Pelco invests heavily in fisheries biology and management activities to ensure the stocks it fishes are in good health.
That’s translated into the company having a good reputation in what is a heavily regulated industry.
The busy period for Pelco is September to mid-March, primarily influenced by the migration patterns of target species, which tend to move closer to New Zealand’s coastal waters during these warmer months.
Outside the season, Pelco’s People and Relations Manager Rachel Cox likes to send her team on courses such as health and safety and leadership training. It’s part of the company’s commitment to retaining and upskilling its staff
For this, her long relationship with the EMA comes to the fore.
Governance and guidance
Cox joined Pelco in early 2019 and signed the company up to the EMA’s services.
She moved to New Zealand from the United Kingdom 14 years ago, and early on in her work life met EMA Employment Relations Consultant Chris Longman, who has provided useful guidance throughout her career here.
She says Longman is someone who understands the industry and she relies on him for advice on what can best be described as quirky employment relations issues as well as his ability to deliver coaching and development on quality and compliance.
“I’m currently coaching one of Pelco’s managers, and I regularly advise on employment queries such as leave and the development of employment agreements and policies tailored to Pelco’s industry needs,” says Longman.
“Being an essential needs business, I also provided a lot of support through the COVID-19 period, including on changes to work hours, risk assessments and vaccination processes.”
Cox says Longman is a “straight shooter” who understands what Pelco is trying to achieve and how to communicate effectively with the various divisions.
“Chris is my go-to man and always provide us prompt and sage advice.”
Pelco also has a seat on the BOP ExportNZ Advisory Committee where a range of established Export businesses from the Bay of Plenty Region come together bi-monthly to share successes and pain points in the export space.
Wellbeing and Safety First
Commercial fishing is a high-risk environment and requires sound health and safety procedures in what at times can be a very unforgiving platform.
Back on shore, there are risks particular to Pelco’s unloading facility based at the Port of Tauranga, as well as its factory, cold store and marine engineering teams, which need to be addressed and closely monitored.
Cox says Pelco takes its commitment to wellbeing and safety seriously and is just one reason for using the services of EMA training for the team.
Team members have attended the EMA’s Health and Safety Representative Stage 1 (Essential Training) and Health and Safety Representative Stage 2 (Advanced Training) run by experienced health and safety facilitator Mike Peterson.
“Mike is perfect for what we need,” says Cox.
“We need trainers that can deliver to our audience, get their attention and get through to them to help them learn.”
Pelco also has Petersen conducting an independent two-day health and safety audit in the coming weeks.
“From past experience, I know Pelco will receive an honest and fair assessment of how we are currently positioned with the implementation and continuation of our wellbeing plans and health and safety systems,” says Cox.
“Pelco is open to fresh eyes, and we want to know what we do well, what we should be doing and are not, as well as suggestions on areas we can improve on.”
She says Pelco always looks to promote and develop within the ranks and the company has used the EMA’s Supervision, An Introduction and Managing Machinery Risk courses to show future leaders how to handle issues themselves and when to escalate.
“It’s about building confidence.”
