A record turnout of 153 contractors, from all around New Zealand, descended on the Bay of Islands in late June for this year’s Rural Contractors of New Zealand (RCNZ) annual conference. Source: AFDJ eNews
RCNZ national president Steve Levet was delighted with the record conference turnout. The event was held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort, in Paihia, from June 27-30.
“This is the largest turnout that I can recall and it seems many rural contractors have decided to ignore some of the doom and gloom merchants and are clearly focussed on looking forward to better times.” Mr Levet said.
The conference had an agenda of relevant and pertinent issues to the rural contracting sector and a number of top-line speakers.
This year’s conference theme was Your Business from Start to Finish and it also celebrated the 20 year anniversary of RCNZ as an organisation.
“We had an agenda chock-full of presentations focussing on how to get smarter in running your business and the use of the latest technology,” Mr Levet said. Presentations, over the three days, covered a myriad of topics including: fuel management; insurance; taxation; ACC; machinery valuation; employment law; succession planning; looking after your workers and yourself.
At the Wednesday night dinner conference-goers were given an informative address by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy – who covered off the outlook for the primary sector biosecurity, Brexit and rural mental health.
“Wednesday night also saw our annual charity auction for St Johns raise more than $21,000 for the ambulance service in the Bay of Islands,” Mr Levet said.
Sponsors provide gifts for the auction and RCNZ members then bid for these with all the money raised donated to St John in the region where the conference is held.
Mr Levet said that rural contractors have a great affinity for the work of St John around the country and RCNZ is proud to help support such a worthy and valuable charity that plays a vital role in rural New Zealand.
The conference finished up on the Thursday night with the annual RCNZ awards dinner sponsored by Rothbury Insurance.
