New look M&NZW revealed

M&WNZ has a new organisational structure "˜to ensure a greater connection with sheep and beef farmers'. Chairman Mike Petersen says the restructure of the organisation resulted in the disestablishment of 23 roles and the creation of seven new positions reports Rural News. The restructuring, required because of the failed wool levy vote in the recent referendum, has forced the organisation to look closely across all activities and decide what was going to provide the best return for farmers.  "˜The reality of the loss of $6.4 million in wool levies has forced us to think carefully about what we do and how we deliver to farmers and it has catalysed some significant change for the organisation. We have approached this from the basis of needing to reduce costs, but also from making effectiveness changes to improve the impact of the business. This is so we can deliver on the mandate farmers have given us in respect to the sheepmeat and beef levies. Inevitably, that means staff redundancies of 23 roles and the creation of seven new positions. A major feature of the new structure will be a much smaller footprint in Wellington and a stronger presence in the regions. "˜More focus on extension will be achieved with the separation of this activity from the farm survey work,' he says. "˜The same number of staff will be involved, but they will specialise in either extension or survey work, rather than trying to split their time 50:50 as they do now.' Petersen says feedback during the referendum consultation highlights that farmers valued the independent information of the MWNZ economic service and this has been kept intact in the restructure process. A major feature of the new structure will be a much smaller footprint in Wellington and a stronger presence in the regions.