Hon Parekura Horomia
Member of Parliament for Ikaroa Rawhiti

29 February 2008 Media Statement

Ikaroa Rawhiti shearing leads the way.

“Shearing is no easy task. An adult sheep can weigh anything between 60 to over 100 kilos. A day’s work can sometimes feel like running two marathons back to back. With this kind of physical strain, it is important that we make sure everyone in the shearing industry has health and safety guidelines to help them look after employees and their businesses”, Parekura Horomia, MP for Ikaroa Rawhiti said today.

Mr Horomia attended the launch of the Health and Safety Makes Good Business Sense information pack at the annual Golden Shears in the Masterton today, along with new health and safety guidelines for the shearing industry.

“The Golden Shears is very much a fixture of Ikaroa Rawhiti’s rural calendar and closely linked to our national identity as a farming nation producing some of the world's finest wool.”

“The event has built up a lot of mana over the years and has an international reputation and is a fitting location to launch both the information pack and the new shearing industry has health and safety guidelines.”

“Paewai Mullins Shearing is an outstanding example of a business that has put in place health and safety systems and good equipment for their workers.”

“They have a real commitment to ensuring good health and safety guidelines are followed, not only to protect their employees from injury, but because it makes good business sense.”

“I would like to congratulate Paewai Mullins Shearing for their contribution to the Shearing industry and also wish all the participants in the Golden Shears the best of luck in the competitions ahead.”

The shearing guidelines and research report are available for download from www.dol.govt.nz

ENDS

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