Pursuing many passions – Georgina Moleta’s journey
I was born and raised in Tākaka, and I’ve always had a passion for hunting. After finishing school, I knew I wanted to do a butchery apprenticeship, which came from my love of hunting.
So, I moved to Nelson, where I trained under a French butcher and later became the 2IC at Raeward Fresh Butchery. It was there I learned a lot about value-add products and gained valuable leadership skills.
My strong connection to my hometown brought me back to Tākaka, where I worked in the local supermarket butchery. But my real passion was to start my own business. In 2015, I made that dream come true when I launched my own home kill butcher business. Over time, I expanded it into a dual butchery, where I process and contract-cut meat for local farmers who raise their own animals for regional supply.
In 2017, I joined Fonterra, starting as a cleaner before moving on to become a Separator & Evaporator Operator. Now, I’m a Level 7 Shift Supervisor and Dryer Operator. My Dad and I have always shared an interest in the dairy industry, and when I started at the Tākaka site, my Dad was working there too, as a Separator Operator.
For the last four years, I’ve been the Tākaka site’s Dairy Workers Union (DWU) Women’s Delegate. I also serve as a DWU Youth Delegate, sitting on the DWU Youth Committee.
I love working at the Tākaka site. Its small size has had a hugely positive impact on my development and knowledge. I’ve had the chance to work closely with people I’ve respected for a long time and learn directly from them. The Co-op is a great place to grow, with everyone supporting each other’s careers and shared learning opportunities.
Recently, I visited the Darfield site with a colleague to learn about their dryer safety system before one was installed at our plant. I also got to see the process of where our amazing Tākaka cream goes as it is made into Darfield’s cream cheese.
For the last four years, I’ve been the Tākaka site’s Dairy Workers Union (DWU) Women’s Delegate. The training DWU provides and the people you meet within the dairy industry is really fantastic. I also serve as a DWU Youth Delegate, sitting on the DWU Youth Committee. This committee was created to engage young members (35 and under) and encourage them to become more involved in union governance and operations.
It’s well supported by the other delegates too, and being part of the Youth Committee has allowed me to meet like-minded people, which is really motivating.
Attending the DWU National Congress back in June was a hugely memorable experience. It was a massive eye-opener, and I brought back some great knowledge and insights to share with the rest of the team. I also got to meet our Chief Operating Officer Anna Palairet and our Chief Executive Miles Hurrell, and it was awesome hearing about the Co-op’s plans for the future.
Outside of work, I’m kept pretty busy running my butchery business and teaching my apprentice. I also love spending time outdoors, especially hunting and tramping with my Dad.
I’ve slowly built my business brand as ‘Georgie Moleta Butcheress,’ and it’s grown both locally and across the country. You can check out my website here.
I also have a small lifestyle block with a few sheep and beef cows, and I really enjoy seeing firsthand the whole paddock-to-plate process, especially when it's tied to good farming practices.