After a restructure in a tight job market didn’t go his way, Kole McGarvey spent three months “screaming through savings” before walking into MSD in search of a job.
The very next day he interviewed for, and landed, a Ministry of Social Development cadetship role at T&G Global’s Hastings site as an orchard developer.
That was seven years ago and he’s still there. He’s now the Workforce Development & Planning Manager helping run Core Talent, the same programme that got his foot in the door.
“When I first had my interview with my manager, Maurice, he told me if you want to go far in the industry all you need to do is turn up and have a good attitude. I thought he was joking,” Kole says.
“This industry is so overlooked,” he says.
Before T&G, the father of four job-hopped every two years, trying everything from chefing and IT to call centre management. But through the MSD-funded programme, Kole says he finally found his niche.
The 12-month Core Talent (formerly ‘Sustainable Employment-Employee Development’ or ‘SEED’) programme provides full-time permanent work for up to 10 candidates a year at T&G’s apples business in Hawke’s Bay. It includes on-the-job training in outdoor orchard work and in the packhouse, and life skills such as budgeting.
MSD East Coast Regional Commissioner Steve Smits-Murray says this year nine MSD job candidates were employed by T&G through the programme and are doing really well. Last year, six people successfully completed the programme and remained employed for six months or longer.
“Between November 2024 and November 2025 we’ve had 4,056 people in Hawke’s Bay move off benefit and into work. Many of those placements have been through the into-work programmes we fund such as Core Talent, as well as the work of our amazing local MSD employment team,” Steve says.
“Horticulture is one of our region’s backbone industries, so we’re really proud to see people get in there and build a solid career. Helping people do that is MSD’s top priority.”
Kole says the permanent contracts offered through the programme enable participants to move between different roles, develop diverse skills and stay employed between seasons.
Participants could start in packhouse or forklift driving roles, then move onto an orchard, doing flower picking, development, tree training or thinning. They also complete tractor, forklift and hydroladder driving qualifications, and a NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Skills.
“Opportunities at T&G are endless,” Kole says.
“I’ve seen real change, and it all comes down to simply having the right mindset, support and opportunities.”
