The New Zealand Shearing Contractors Association will be going on the road and hosting meetings throughout New Zealand to discuss industry issues and launch the new compliance and worker injury prevention programme ''Tahi Ngatahi'' next month.
Association executive officer Mark Robinson said there would be three meetings in the South Island from September 19 to 21, including one in Gore on September 19 at the Heartland Hotel Croyden at 1pm.
''The first half of the roadshow would be talking about industry issues such as pay rates, contracts, labour, training, working conditions and also listening to members and anybody else in the industry who comes along.''
He said the second half of the roadshow meeting would be about Tahi Ngatahi, which was developed by stakeholders including the association, ACC, WorkSafe and Federated Farmers.
Mr Robinson said the association held an executive meeting on August 23. In addition to the roadshows, they discussed feedback from farmers, contractors and industry workers about the new 25% rates increase, which was launched on July 1.
He said the feedback had been ''overall, very positive'' from contractors, and the workers were also pleased.
Although the new rates were being adopted depending on the region and time of season, and as contractors got the chance to talk to their farmers, Mr Robinson thought that overall, the new rates would be acceptable.
''It is pretty critical for the industry to be able to retain skilled labour to get the wool off sheep.''
Mr Robinson said they also discussed industry training at the executive meeting.
''For training, we are at the stage of reviewing and raising different options,'' he said.
''There are a few things to follow up at this stage and we will be taking stock of what has been happening in recent times.
''We have had a few people approach us with different views and proposals around training.''
He said there would be further discussions.
''We will be in a better position in mid-October to look at different options about the way forward.''
The association was also looking at its constitution.
''Work need to be done in terms of modernisation of the association.''
