Ron Parkin – Chief Assessor
FAMILY BUSINESSES:
- Parkin Bros. Ltd
Builders, Joiners and Developers Est. 1908
- Parkin Farms Est. 1979
Asparagus Growers - Mixed Fattening Farm
- Asparagus International - Est. 1991 Nadi, Fiji
- Genoese Foods - Est. 1993
COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE:
| 1959-62: |
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Served Carpentry Apprenticeship with Parsons & Capper Ltd. |
| 1963-72: |
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Joined Cubitts N.Z.Ltd. as Construction Planner at Head Office.
Progressed through various management positions to Contracts Manager 1970-72. |
| 1973 – 80: |
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Joined family company as Contracts Manager with shareholding.
Oversaw company expansion as General Manager. |
| 1981: |
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Closed down Wellington operation in 1981 on movement to Horowhenua.
Company continues to operate in Development Construction - Commercial and Rural. |
OTHER POSITIONS:
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Executive Member - Wellington Master Builders Assn. |
| 1979-80 |
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President - Wellington Master Builders Assn. |
| 1984-88 |
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Executive Member N.Z. Master Builders Federation |
| 1986-87 |
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President - NZ Master Builders Federation |
| 1986 |
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Foundation Member - N.Z. Institute of Building |
| 1986-91 |
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Chairman - Education & Training Com. N.Z. Master Builders. |
| 1982-90 |
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Executive Member N.Z. Asparagus Council |
| 1985-90 |
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Chairman, N.Z. Asparagus Council |
| 1990-93 |
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Chairman, Rangitikei Packhouse Ltd. |
| 1991-94 |
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Director - Master Build Services Ltd. |
| 1991-95 |
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Chairman - N.Z. Building & Construction Industry Training Board. |
FARMING ACTIVITIES:
Purchased 69 acre farm Muhunoa West, Horowhenua 1979. Developed into mixed operation of cattle and asparagus production.
1984 - In conjunction with Asparagus grower, Margo Shaw we established SP Enterprises whose principal objective was to co-ordinate the production, processing and marketing of Fresh Asparagus for export.
The combined production gave sufficient critical mass to allow the development of an export industry in the Horowhenua.
SP Enterprises expanded the partnership in 1991 to include Lewis Farms. In the year ended December 1994 SP Enterprises exported $820,000 C & F of Asparagus out of the Horowhenua district.
1995 - SP Enterprises was converted into a company structure as
“The Tender Tips Co. Ltd.”
Substantial investment by the shareholders in Market Development (Export and Local) and Science and Technology has provided the base for the expansion of the company. The company’s total sales for YE Dec 2000 $1,617,001.00 with export sales to Japan of $1,105,718.00.
1991 - Parkin Farms had been experimenting with the production of early season asparagus for the local & export market.
These investigations lead to the purchase of 45 acres at Nadi in Fiji. “Asparagus International Ltd.” Asparagus International export fresh and processed herbs to USA, Canada and NZ.
1993 - Genoese Foods Ltd.
This company was established to develop a market opportunity in New Zealand and the Pacific Rim for the manufacture of Italian and Continental Styled Condiments, using the fresh herbs grown in Fiji by Asparagus International.
With the use of Science and Technology provided by Massey University Genoese Foods developed a unique process to sanitize fresh herbs and this has provided the basis for the development of product to the top end of the gourmet food market domestically an internationally.
Genoese Foods supplies products to Domestic Foodservice, Industrial, International Airline catering and International Foodservice markets in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Parkin Bros. Ltd. This company is now an Investment and Development
Company as well as being the Export Trading arm of Asparagus International.
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