Amberley seed business sows opportunities for Hurunui youth

A seed growing business in Amberley is sowing opportunities for Hurunui’s young people.

Proseed Ltd is Australasia’s largest supplier of tree seed. Its location, nestled between the mountains and the sea in Amberley, produces a microclimate that is ideal for nurturing forestry and native seed.

It’s also proving ideal for nurturing the potential of Hurunui’s young people wanting an opportunity to grow their skills.

“I’ve got three daughters, my wife is a teacher aide – it’s about wanting to see young people develop,” Proseed General Manager Shaf van Ballekom says.

The company has partnered with the Hurunui Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme, placing seven applicants in seasonal employment. It’s a first for the company, which was originally established by the NZ Forest Service in 1966 and purchased by Ngāi Tahu in 2001.

Hurunui District Council MTFJ Programme Lead Chris Sutherland “came knocking”, Van Ballekom says — and that first meeting has been reaping results.

Reuben Whitehead (16) has helped plant hundreds of trees in the seed orchard since starting under the MTFJ programme. He’s also fulfilled an aspiration by completing a chainsaw course. He funded half the course himself, with the balance met by the national MTFJ programme.

It’s a step closer to his dream of going into forestry.

“I love the work. I’ve learnt a lot – heaps of safety processes,” he says. “It’s a good opportunity to get started, you’re not stuck doing the same thing.”

Grace Young (17) has been growing her own skills in the pollen room and on the pruning programme.

With a love of the outdoors, it’s been an eye-opener.

“I didn’t know much about the industry at all, and I’ve really enjoyed the range of work. I’m not really an inside person, I like being outside, so it’s ideal,” she says.

Proseed employs up to 100 people at key times of the year, employing people of all ages from across North Canterbury from Waiau to Kaiapoi to Oxford, Van Ballekom says. Supplying free loads of cones to schools for fundraising is synonymous with the company’s community ethos as a local employer. .

“It’s always good to see young people coming up. It’s a pretty good environment to start out in,” Van Ballekom says.

Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black says it’s community partnerships like these that provide vital opportunities for young people to gain skills, experience and employment. “It’s rewarding to see the shared values of our local businesses and the MTFJ programme delivering outstanding results for our young people.”

• Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) Community Employment Programme (CEP) is a nationwide partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, with support from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).