Mark originally planned a career in dairying and from school took a labouring job at the Te Puke Dairy Company. This led to the company sending him to Massey University for a diploma in Dairy Technology.

Mark returned to Katikati in the late 1970’s converting his own block of land and the family property from dairying to Kiwifruit. And the rest, as they say is history…

Hume Pack-N-Cool is a company with real family values and a family feel and Mark prides himself in the fact he is a very hands-on Managing Director and can say with hand on heart that he keeps himself fully informed in all aspects of the company and wider industry,  from growing to packing to cool-storage, then often travelling overseas to see the fruit in the market. Mark is also a member of many industry groups.

Starting out in the industry in 2006 working for a private growing, packing and coolstore company I caught the kiwifruit bug and haven’t looked back.  To build on my practical experience and grow my understanding I completed a Certificate in Horticulture Level 4, Diploma in Horticulture with Lincoln University, Fruit Production for Profit at the BOP Polytech and the Hort NZ Leadership program in 2015.

I have spent a number of years in orchard management which has given me a good grounding before moving in to post-harvest operations and continuing to expanding my industry knowledge.  Now with a young family my Wife and I own a Green and Gold orchard and we are commited to the industry and its future in the years to come. 

Starting out in the industry in 2006 working for a private growing, packing and coolstore company I caught the kiwifruit bug and haven’t looked back.  To build on my practical experience and grow my understanding I completed a Certificate in Horticulture Level 4, Diploma in Horticulture with Lincoln University, Fruit Production for Profit at the BOP Polytech and the Hort NZ Leadership program in 2015.

I have spent a number of years in orchard management which has given me a good grounding before moving in to post-harvest operations and continuing to expanding my industry knowledge.  Now with a young family my Wife and I own a Green and Gold orchard and we are commited to the industry and its future in the years to come. 

After completing a degree in Agriculture at Massey University Alistair moved to Te Puke and spent four years working for Turners and Growers as an export rep. While there he experienced the highs and lows of the industry including multiple desk selling and the 87 share market crash.

Returning from an extensive 2 year OE, he re-entered the kiwifruit industry working on orchards in Te Puke.

Marriage, two children and a twenty five year career growing commercial roses has once again seen a return to kiwifruit…………

The industry today presents a far bigger, more complex and dynamic environment and Alistair welcomes the challenges and opportunities it presents.

I was born and raised in the North King Country on a sheep and beef farm before moving to Katikati at the start of 2015. I have been involved in the kiwifruit industry ever since, working in both the orchard and post-harvest operations throughout the year.

I have a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from the University of Canterbury and completed the Level 2 National Certificate in Horticulture through Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology. 

My partner and I recently purchased our first home in Athenree. Not only are we both in the kiwifruit industry, we share a passion for football and dedicate a significant amount of time to the Katikati football community. I currently coach the U19 Boys (2^nd XI) team and run Minis Football (ages 5-7). I am a member of the Katikati Junior Football Committee and play for the Waihi Women’s Football team. I am grateful to have a work-life balance that allows me to continue to be involved with a sport that I love. 

I have recently joined Hume Pack and Cool as their Grower Services Administrator.

From a rural background I have lived in the local area for 20+ years with my children attending local schools. With a background in banking, administration and event coordination I look forward to getting to know our growers personally and contributing to a team that offers a high level of service.

I have 16 years experience in the kiwifruit industry with National Certificate level 4. I have had managing roles in kiwifruit for 13 years.

I live locally with my wife and three children. enjoyable pursuits are hunting, fishing and touch rugby.

I come from a farming background, was a builder for 10 years and have been involved in the Kiwifruit Industry on and off for the past 34 years. Have worked for Hume Pack-N-Cool Ltd for the past 14 years and am involved in both the Orchard and Packhouse/Coolstore sides of the business.

Blair has been in the Kiwifruit industry for 27 years working as an Orchard Manager. Blair also has much experience with avocados as he was an orchard owner of both Kiwifruit and avocados in the past. Blair holds a BOP Diploma in Horticulture Management.

Blair is married with 3 adult children, all schooled in Katikati. He has 6 grandchildren and enjoys spending time with his family. His wide range of interests include; rugby, surfing, hunting, fitness and cricket.

Joe commenced working for Hume Pack-N-Cool Ltd in May of 2015 as an Orchard Cadet. He is now an Orchard Manager, and after a stint in Katikati he and his young family now live in Athenree.

Joe grew up in Waihi Beach and was an aluminium joiner for 4 years before he took his brother in-laws advice and joined the kiwifruit industry. He is thoroughly enjoying his time at Hume’s and is learning new things every day. When he is not growing kiwifruit, Joe enjoys playing rugby and spending time with his wife and daughter.

David joined Hume Pack and Cool in March 2019. He has nearly 20 years of service to the primary industries with a broad base of experience covering consulting, rural finance and operations management in both dairying and kiwifruit. Having worked in and around the Katikati region as a Rural Bank Manager between 2006 and 2010, David returned to the Bay of Plenty with his wife and two young children in 2017 and lives just down the road on a block in Whakamarama.

He is still a regular on the cricket pitch every Saturday throughout the summer and currently serves as Vice President of Mount maunganui Cricket Club.

David is excited to have re-established his relationship with Hume Pack and Cool and is looking forward to working with the wider team to drive efficiency within the packhouse to deliver the best outcomes for growers and the company alike.

Alice is one of Hume Pack-N-Cool Ltd’s long-standing employees, having been with the company over 30 years but has worked in the Kiwifruit industry with over 40 years’ experience under her belt.

Alice’s knowledge of Kiwifruit is immense, having worked in all areas from orchard picking, pruning, thinning, kiwigreening to all operational aspects of running a packhouse.

Alice is a Katikati local and much of her working career has been in Katikati.

I joined the team at Hume-Pack-N- Cool Ltd in 2007 when relocating from Tauranga to Katikati.

My working career up until then was in retail, so the move to the Kiwifruit Industry has been very different with many challenges.

Outside of work I love cooking, fishing and most of all spending time with my grandchildren.

I have been at Hume Pack-N-Cool Ltd for over 19 years and have worked in a variety of positions, learning about packhouse operations and processes.

I enjoy my role as Coolstore Technical Manager, working with the team to continually improve fruit storability. Outside of work, I am a volunteer fireman with the Katikati Fire Brigade which keeps me active and involved in the community.

Gavin has been involved in the Kiwifruit industry since day one, 1976, working in all aspects of roles from orchard management, operations, Coolstore manager and now Design engineer. He has been working at Hume Pack-N-Cool Ltd for the past 12 years and enjoys working in the industry.  He spends his spare time in the Coromandel with family and runs his own lifestyle block of avocados.

Originally from the UK, I have been in New Zealand for the last 12 years and have been involved in the kiwifruit industry since my arrival. Prior to moving to New Zealand, I studied at the University of East Anglia then trained as a chartered accountant, leading finance teams in a range of business sectors.

Outside of work I have the kiwi lifestyle block with avocados along with my wife, Margaret, and son and daughter (who has now moved to Ireland). We have a number of animals including two errant goats my wife rescued.

I have been involved in the Kiwifruit Industry since returning to Katikati from my OE in 1978 and with Hume Pack-N-Cool since Incorporation in 1984. I have always been involved with the Financial, Management and Administrative aspects of this great Company. My wife Debbie and I, and sometimes with the assistance of our 4 adult children, along with a menagerie of animals, run 6.5 Ha of HW and GA Kiwifruit in Katikati, my home town.

Kate has been working in the Kiwifruit industry since 1995. Most of these years have been spent undertaking seasonal recruitment, however since 2000 she has been undertaking generalist HR roles. She has been at Hume Pack-N-Cool since late 2010.

Kate’s passion is using her skills and enthusiasm to assist individuals and teams achieve personal and organisational success. She prides herself on her integrity, professional ethics and loyalty.

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