Westport Farmer Drives Safety Push

• Published date: 08 November 2023
• Publication title: West Coast Farming Times, The

At the fore of the 'Half Arsed Stops Here' campaign is Buller's Jack Raharuhi

Jack at 31, is Pamu's business manager West Coast. He is in charge of the three dairy units, the dairy support farm and livestock farms as well as the machinery contracting business all based at Cape Foulwind.

Jack has experienced two on farm fatalities.

"I have been personally aff ected by one of the deaths and it has grown my passion for that safety area of the business." Jack said he has a strong stance on unsafe behaviours on farm.

"It is about ensuring a good safety culture is established, good training is in place and even down to putting the right vehicle on the right farm," he said.

The online social media campaign aims to get those in the farming industry to register and 'sign the pledge' to be part of the change.

Jack is one of many, who is acting as an ambassador, with his message and short video presented on the Facebook site.

"We need people to make a commitment and to encourage change in safety and wellbeing within the sector.

There are still too many people getting injured and killed from preventable incidents. We need people to start leading by example," Jack said.

At the Cape Foulwind Pamu farms, 'Spring Breakfasts' are a feature during calving.

"Eating right is important. It is one way of ensuring our young workers are getting at least one good meal into them each...