Sector desperately seeking halal butchers

The red meat sector is desperately seeking halal butchers as it faces the start of the busy processing season with a significant shortage.

The sector usually required about 250 halal processing people each year.

About 100 of those roles would normally be filled by New Zealanders and the remainder would be made up of migrant workers.

However, Covid-19 border restrictions meant migrant halal butchers and boners were unable to enter New Zealand.

Of the 98 already here, 87 would have to leave within a year. The remaining 11 would have to leave before the end of 2022.

With the processing season set to begin in September and a current shortage of about 50 processors, the Meat Industry Association has launched a recruitment drive to attract halal workers.

Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said halal butchers were critical to the meat processing industry, especially in regional communities where many plants are located.

Processing companies offered competitive wages and training, he said.

‘‘Halal processing is a core part of the New Zealand meat processing industry, with approximately 43 per cent of total red meat exports halal certified for Muslim consumers. These contribute approximately $3.3 billion in export earnings.

‘‘Without halal butchers, there is a real potential that the overall value of each animal processed is reduced, meaning less revenue for companies, farmers and the New Zealand economy.’’

However, attracting workers to the role could be challenging.

Under Islamic law, halal workers must be ‘‘a sane Muslim adult’’ and follow a particular slaughtering technique.

Applicants must also be entitled to work in New Zealand, competent in the English language, physically and medically fit, and prepared and able to work in regional New Zealand.

Karapeeva said New Zealand’s Muslim community was very small and predominantly concentrated in Auckland and the prospect of moving into a rural community could deter some people.

The confronting nature of the job, which involved ‘‘disassembling a living animal, essentially’’, also meant it required resilience and maturity.

‘‘I want to stress it’s not a matter of paying more or training; it is a religious faith and aptitude matter.’’

However, the red meat industry had invested in developing expertise in halal practices and was proud of its ability to produce halal-certified product for millions of consumers, Karapeeva said.