MEET A MASTER CONTRACTOR

MAT JOHNSTON

Mat joined Master Contractors to help improve the sustainability of the industry and to make growers and government aware that there are professional and compliant contractors out there.

Availability of skilled labour is the key issue facing the industry according to Mat.

“When I joined the industry in the 80’s it was quite buoyant. These days growers’ incomes are shrinking and labour costs are higher due to compliance. This makes it tougher for both contractors and growers,” says Mat.

Mat Johnston has been in the industry ever since he left school at seventeen.  He now has his own contracting business employing forty-five staff servicing the Te Puke area, mainly working with kiwifruit and avocados.