Nelson Tasman is a hotbed for extraordinary business stories, and at Intepeople we are privileged to support so many clever local businesses diversify and grow their teams.

One such business we work with is local forestry equipment manufacturer DC Equipment. They are leading the way globally in creating a safer and more productive steep slope logging industry, from their headquarters and manufacturing facility in Brightwater, and their second manufacturing facility in Santiago, Chile. Recently, we assisted them with the recruitment of a new position in their production team.

We chatted with Andy McKinstry, Manager, and Pedro Ivo Costa Vaz, Production Planner, at DC Equipment, about their recruitment journey with Intepeople and what it’s like to live, work and run a global business in Nelson Tasman.

Clever + Diverse Business

A family owned business, DC Equipment is driven by a vision to bring safety and efficiency to the forest industry. Andy describes DC Equipment as an exciting place to work – a relatively young company that is expanding and growing, with a “remarkable set of products that we believe in.”

“We are not PC or a Google/Apple type company,” Andy explains. “Sometimes we swear and get passionate.”

Their team is diverse – made up of design engineers, IT professionals, hands-on mechanics and skilled fitters and welders. With more than 65 people in their Brightwater team alone, they’re regularly producing their current range and developing new products.

Employing a diverse mix of nationalities they also have a high proportion of women working in the business compared to many forestry engineering-based firms.

Engaging Intepeople for Recruitment

Andy admits it can be hard to find skilled workers in Nelson, especially with production experience, but feels they “are lucky to have a good group of people involved in the business.”

With DC Equipment’s major export markets being the USA, Canada, Australia and Chile, it’s no surprise that logistics and production planning is a significant aspect of the business.

In 2019, DC Equipment had an opportunity for a Production Planner, and with the ideal candidate for this position requiring a specific set of skills and experience, Andy engaged Intepeople to recruit for this position.

“We have used Intepeople before to fill positions and we have found them to be very thorough and they have been successful in bringing the right people to us,” explains Andy. “They have taken the hassle out of the recruiting process and have had a wider spread of people than traditional advertising.”

One of our clever Talent Partners, Odette, took on the recruitment for this role, which covered our full-service recruitment package from advertising the role and shortlisting applicants, through to initial interviews, reference checking and final face-to-face interviews at DC Equipment’s Brightwater head office.

“I found Intepeople terrific and they kept us involved throughout the process”
- Andy McKinstry, DC Equipment

Brazil ➡ Auckland ➡ Nelson Tasman

While advertising the role, Odette received an application from Pedro, originally from Brazil and living in Auckland at the time.

Highly educated with a master’s degree in project management, bachelor’s in manufacturing engineering and level 4 in naval machines, Pedro also brought with him more than nine years of extensive hands-on experience in industrial/manufacturing planning and scheduling from the shipbuilding industry.

Keen to enjoy the New Zealand lifestyle, Pedro had spent two years developing his language and professional skills in preparation to successfully work here.

Discovering the Production Planner position with DC Equipment, Pedro felt it was an unmissable opportunity to reengage in a planning role and challenge himself in a new field.

Adjusting to life in Nelson Tasman

Having originally moved from Brazil to Auckland in 2017, then moving to Nelson in 2019, Pedro admits his new life in Nelson took a little getting used to at first.

“My first week was a little bit difficult – new job, new city, everything was really new,” explains Pedro. “However, DC allowed me time to settle in the city, find a place to stay and all the things that need to be done when you are moving from one city to another.”

Pedro compliments DC Equipment on their comprehensive induction, and support from his colleagues who really helped him to settle in and understand the company’s processes.

“I have never lived in a small town before, but after you start knowing the community and all the different activities you can do, this feeling has gone away,” Pedro says. "Nelson made me feel welcome and has been treating me well so far."

Image credit: NelsonTasman.nz

“Nelson made me feel welcome and has been treating me well so far.”
- Pedro Ivo Costa Vaz, DC Equipment

Andy’s Advice for Employers Recruiting in Nelson Tasman

• Be sure of what you want
• Look for quality and a good team fit
• Look for people with ideas and enthusiasm
• Use the skills of Intepeople
• Be prepared to do some in-house training

Keen to live and work in Nelson Tasman? Join our Talent Bank here.

Looking for recruitment services in Nelson Tasman? Contact us here to discuss your needs.