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 expand my industry knowledge.  Now with a young family my Wife and I are invested in the industry growing both Green and Gold and we are commited to the industry and its future in the years to come. 

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 live in sunny Athenree with our Japanese Spitz, Zuko and in January 2021 we welcomed our son Dash into the world. 

Since the age of 8, I have called Katikati home! While studying at Katikati college I worked weekends and after school on the line, packing fruit at Hume Pack-N-Cool. In 2013, I graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from AUT University. After graduation, I spent four years as an electrical engineer in Christchurch and Tauranga, working on some high-profile buildings. Our family has always been connected to the kiwifruit industry. At the start of 2018, I made the move over and started working in the kiwifruit industry as a grower services representative for another post harvest facility. With our family operation in kiwifruit, I have been around the industry for a long time and what a wonderful time to be a part of it.

I love the opportunities this industry has to offer. I enjoy working with people towards a common goal. To further develop my skills and capabilities, I am in the process of completing my MBA from Otago University. In my spare time, I enjoy playing and watching sports, golf in particular, and spending time with my wife and parents.

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.

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-law's 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 kids.

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.

I joined Hume Pack N Cool Ltd in 2018 & work alongside our Orchard Managers, Contracting & Grower Services teams.

I have lived locally for many years with my children attending local schools.

 With a background in finance, administration and event coordination I highly value contributing to a team that offers a high level of service in a friendly & efficient manner.

Nav grew up in Katikati and his 16 year career in the Kiwifruit industry started as an after school job. He studied Business Management after college and not surprisingly, Nav worked his way up within the industry quickly and has held management roles from the ripe age of just 21 years old.

One of his biggest achievements so far is turning around a 3 million tray site to one that was pumping out 8 million in the space of just six years. He brings a wealth of experience to us here at Hume Pack N Cool.

When he’s not working, Nav enjoys playing golf and cricket as well as spending time with his wife and two boys.

Audrey is a born and bred East Coast girl who grew up in Matawai near Gisborne. Her career started off in customer service roles and due to a change in her partner’s work circumstances, relocated to the Bay of Plenty. It was at this time that she tried her hand in the kiwifruit industry, starting in the packhouse, moving on to Kiwigreen Pest Monitoring and finally finding her niche in Quality. One of Audrey’s favourite parts of being a manager is watching people develop their skillset and start elevating their career in the kiwifruit industry, just as she has done.

Audrey has three beautiful grand daughters to her one son and loves to spend time with them when she’s away from the packhouse. She’s also quite fond of getting in a round of two or golf in the weekends as well.

Chris joined the kiwifruit industry in 2008 after completing his studies towards a BSc majoring in Horticultural Science at Massey University. His first role in kiwifruit was at a postharvest supplier in a technical support role looking after maturity testing and the selection and monitoring of crops for controlled atmosphere storage, as well as carrying out a range of on-orchard technical activities.

In 2012 he joined Kiwifruit Vine Health as an Operations Advisor, providing advice to growers on the management of Psa on their orchards and helping to develop a range of best practice documents.

Following this, Chris returned to post-harvest in 2015 as an Operations Technical Manager, with a primary focus on optical and predictive sorting of fruit, as well as working with production teams to help maximise packhouse throughput and working on a range of automation projects. During this time, Chris also spent two years overseeing blueberry packing operations.

Chris is a previous winner of both the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower and New Zealand Young Fruit Grower of the Year competitions.

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.

I started as a marine engineer after school, taking me around the world. After 5 years I retrained as a welder and started working at Hume Pack-N-Cool in 2016, growing in my role ever since.

Having a background in general engineering has paved the way for the dynamic environment that the kiwifruit packing industry is. I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges to come in the near future as part of the growing team at Hume Pack-N-Cool.

Jared grew up in Auckland, and after leaving school, completed his apprenticeship in Maintenance and Diagnostic Engineering. Following his apprenticeship, he went on to work at the Devonport Naval Base working on diesel ship engines.

In 2014 he moved with his family to Papamoa where he started working on commercial vehicles. His career in the kiwifruit industry began as a Maintenance Engineer for a post-harvest facility where he gained experience maintaining a range of fruit packing machines, as well as assisting with the installation of a whole new packing line. Following a brief period of time away from the kiwifruit industry, Jared started with us here at Hume Pack in 2021, commencing the next step in his journey.

On the weekends Jared likes to spend time with his daughters and family. His past-times include windsurfing and working on his cars which he likes to take out for long Sunday drives.

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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