A new walking track at Te Puke‘s Trevelyan’s Pack & Cool is already making a difference to the wellbeing of its staff.

“It’s just nice to get out from behind the computer,” said employment administrator Michaela Tupper. “It’s a relaxing place to come, especially during the busy season when we don’t get outside as much.”

Most of the jobs in the packhouse involve standing inside for long periods, while other staff may spend hours sitting in an office or forklift. The walking track is used as a break and also for walking meetings.

“One of our team puts shorts and shoes on and runs a couple of loops after work,” said marketing and communications manager Sacha Koster. “It’s just a great way to stretch the legs.”

Nature track

The two-kilometre track winds through native bush, down into a gully and past the newly constructed fire pond.

“The wellbeing of our workers is massively important,” said Koster. “We have a wellness committee which is always looking at initiatives we can introduce.”

“Right now, we’re doing a weight loss challenge called ‘Move It May’,” said project and business improvement/development coordinator Alex Reid.

“There’s a newsletter that highlights things like subsidised fitness classes that our workers have access to. We also have a village green where people can play games like soccer and volleyball.”

Signs mark the walking track at Trevelyan’s. Photo / Debbie Griffiths

Trevelyan’s is New Zealand’s largest single-site kiwifruit and avocado packhouse. It sits on a 30-hectare property and has a permanent staff of about 300 with an additional 1300 seasonal workers.

“We carry out surveys and focus on continuous improvement so we’re always reviewing our processes,” said Koster. “A happy workforce is a productive workforce.”