Senior Tractor Operator/Farm Operations Lead
We are looking for an experienced Leader and Tractor/Machinery Operator to join our Plantation Dairy team.
Apatu Farms is a leading agribusiness recognised for scale, performance, and operational excellence across Hawke’s Bay. We are focused on performance, people and continuous improvement.
Our Plantation Dairy site is a large, high-performaing farm based in Onga Onga, Hawkes Bay. We have up to 2000 cows at peak, a 60 bale rotary, twice a year calving (‘Spring’: July-Oct/Nov and ‘Autumn’: January-April) and all-year milking. We are busy! To help us get things done we are supported by a strong on-site team of 15+ people and modern, well-maintained infrastructure as well as support from the wider Apatu Farms team.
About the role:
We are looking for a senior machinery operator to take full ownership of all machinery-related operations on-farm. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will lead one other operator and be responsible for the standard, organisation, and discipline of all machinery work.
This role will suit someone who:
– Takes real pride in how their work area looks and operates
– Prefers things planned, structured and done properly
– Enjoys variety in their work
– Leads by example and sets high standards every day
Key Responsibilities:
- Full ownership of all machinery operations across the farm
- Plan and execute work ahead of time, not reactively
- Lead and mentor a second operator, setting expectations and standards
- Maintain a clean, organised and well-run yard, workshop and machinery fleet
- Ensure all work is completed to a clear schedule and high standard
Tasks include: effluent management, muck spreading, irrigation set up and operations, tractor work (feeding out, silage, cultivation), operating telehandlers, diggers and wheel loaders, general farm support including basic fencing and maintenance
What we offer:
- A senior role with real ownership and leadership responsibility
- A fleet of modern, high-utilisation equipment
- Variety in work across machinery, infrastructure and farm operations
- Competitive remuneration
- 6:2 roster
- On-farm accomodation available if required
- Supportive, well-run farm environment
About you:
- Strong experience across tractors and a range of machinery (telehandler, digger, loader)
- Able to work independently with full accountability
- Proven ability to lead and mentor another operator
- Highly organised with a structured, planned approach to work
- Takes personal pride in tidiness, presentation, and equipment care
- Strong mechanical aptitude — you don’t need to be a mechanic, but you must understand how machinery works, identify issues early, and look after equipment properly
- Comfortable working across a variety of tasks and farm activities
- Reliable, consistent, and sets a strong example for others
- Able to pass a pre-employment drug test
Please note that you will need to hold New Zealand Citizenship or Residency to be considered for this role
Apatu Farms
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