Jimmy Chand, general manager of Cobb New Zealand, met with the Māori King, Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki, to discuss economic development strategies for the region. Cobb New Zealand is growing, as sales into Asia and the Pacific increase. The company is committed to hiring as many members of the Māori community as possible to fill 15 current open positions and any new roles that will be created in the near future.
“Being a good neighbor is a top priority across the Cobb family and an important part of our mission,” said Chand. “The success of the Cobb New Zealand business is thanks to our team, many of whom are Māori. We are actively working to hire more members of the community and hope they will continue to join the Cobb family.”
Cobb New Zealand employs 33 people from the Māori community. Their roles span across operations and levels, including supervisors, team leaders, and production management. In 2020, Cobb provided school uniforms and rugby balls to three schools in the region. The company also contributed 25,000 table eggs as part of food parcels to help families in need.
The meeting also included representatives from Comfort Group and Winton Group. Together, the three companies will add more than 1,000 jobs and 2,000 homes for the community. They also discussed creating an educational program for the community and providing additional work opportunities through contractors and suppliers.
