MEET THE TEAM
Tom Heeney
Director
Fee Edwards
Director
Tim Woodward
General Manager
Paul Waldron
Machinery Operations Manager
Alex Shortcliffe
Senior Orchard Manager
Greg Anderson
Senior Orchard Manager
Gurpeet Singh
Senior Orchard Manager
James Taylor
Senior Orchard Manager
Jono Edwards
Field Operations Manager
Rachel Walling
Office Administrator
Richard Thorn
Senior Orchard Manager
Tony Hooper
Senior Orchard Manager
Sandhu Singh
Orchard Manager
Amandeep Singh - BK
Orchard Manager
Arshdeep Singh
Orchard Manager
Kaea Chappell
Trainee Manager
Arapeta Raki
Trainee Manager
Completely independent, we work with the packhouse of your choice.
Tom Heeny — Director
Tom has a strong sheep/beef farming background and has previously lived in Hawkes Bay and the Waikato. He has tertiary qualifications from Massey University (Dip Hort, B Ag (Rural Valuation) and a Post Grad Diploma in Business). He and his family have been involved in the kiwifruit industry since 1980.
Tom and his wife, Fee, settled in Te Puke in 1995 and bought their own orchard. They also managed the family kiwifruit operation which included running a small packhouse which was eventually sold to HukaPak.
Tom and Fee established EHC in 2004 to offer independent orchard management services to orchard owners who were seeking expert advice and support. Tom now oversees all orchard management activities within EHC’s Orchard Management team.
“I pride myself on keeping up-to-date with best practice and ensuring a relevant, technically sound and cost-effective approach is taken to managing our orchards. As an orchard owner myself, I understand the importance of ensuring orchards are managed on an individual basis with due consideration given to each site and the variables involved to ensure the best possible outcomes are realised on a consistent basis.”
Fee Edwards — Director
Fee is also originally from a sheep and beef farming background in the Hawke’s Bay. Fee then pursued a career off-farm, working in both the public and private sectors of the health and pharmaceutical industries in a variety of roles ranging from sales and marketing positions to senior management.
Fee has tertiary qualifications from both Massey and Victoria Universities in Social Science, Nursing, Midwifery, and a Post Graduate MBA (Executive) from Waikato University. Fee established EHC in 2004 with Tom and heads up the administrative support team behind the business
Tim Woodward — General Manager
Born and raised in Christchurch, Tim gained degrees in Business Management (B.Com) and Plant Science (M.Sc Hon) plus a PhD from the University of Canterbury and the University of Waikato. He joined the kiwifruit industry in 2001 and has worked throughout the entire supply chain.
Tim has held a number of technical, consultancy and senior management roles in orchard management and post-harvest businesses, and spent a few years at ZESPRI. Tim’s role at EHC is to provide management support across the business and technical support to the wider business and clients.
“It’s fantastic being part of such a practical and fun team which consistently grows such great fruit.”
Paul Waldron — Machinery Operations Manager
I was born and raised in Hamilton originally.
I have extensive experience in a variety of areas ranging from railways, through to electronic businesses and forest and bird conservation operations.
I have been in the kiwifruit industry since 2001 in a number of positions with machinery mostly in on orchard roles including mowing, spraying, structural maintenance, conversions and also greenfield developments.
I have most recently been involved as a machinery Operations Manager for a large orhard management provider since 2013.This position required coordinating all conventional and organic machinery operations for their clients. I have vast experience with both conventional and organic spraying protocols as well as fertilizer and compost application programs.
I enjoy being on orchard and believe that there is no better way to have a good look at how an orchard is looking is to get on the mower or sprayer and have a look.
I am a very family-oriented person and enjoy spending time with my wife and our 14 grandchildren.
Being a family orientated person, I am enjoying being part of the EHC Orchard Management team and the supportive environment.
Alex Shortcliffe — Senior Orchard Manager
Originally from Auckland but raised in Te Puke, Alex has spent many years working in kiwifruit orchards and packhouses. Following stints in Australia working in construction, and in Rotorua working at a sawmill, Alex joined EHC in time for the 2014 harvest as a field supervisor. Alex has since gained his National Certificates in Horticulture levels 2 and 4, and is currently studying towards the Fruit Production for Profit Certificate with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Alex has risen through the ranks of EHC to his current position of Senior Orchard Manager.
Greg Anderson — Senior Orchard Manager
Greg was raised on a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puna and since 1998 has worked in and around the kiwifruit industry, with roles both on-orchard and within the post-harvest sector.
Greg’s practical experience is supported by academic qualifications including a National Certificate in Horticulture Level 4 and the Fruit Production for Profit Certificate through the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Having purchased a rundown apple and citrus orchard and developing it into a full producing Hayward orchard, Greg knows the ins and outs of clearing land and starting from scratch.
When he isn’t out on the orchard, Greg loves fishing, boating, old cars and spending time with his family and dogs. “I absolutely love my job, especially working with underperforming orchards and turning them around.”
Gurpeet Singh — Senior Orchard Manager
Gurpreet has been involved in horticulture industry since 2009 and has worked on various positions across the sector. He holds a business management qualification and a national certificate in horticulture level 2 and 3. Gurpreet has a very good knowledge and understanding of the kiwifruit industry and has worked his way up to being an Orchard Manager. Outside of work Gurpreet loves spending time with his family.
James Taylor — Senior Orchard Manager
Growing up in Waikato, James started his career dairy/goat farming before moving over to the Bay of Plenty to take on a role with EHC.
James joined the EHC team in July 2015 as a member of the vine training team and has worked his way through the ranks to his current role of Junior Orchard Manager. James enjoys working with growers – this combined with his practical experience and can-do attitude ensures that his growers achieve great results.
Away from work, James is in to hunting and fishing.
Jono Edwards — Field Operations Manager
Jono has been involved in the kiwifruit industry for over 10 years in a variety of roles across the sector including working at a leading post-harvest facility. He has a sound knowledge base and experience in a variety of areas. Jono’s experience is supported by qualifications including a National Certificate in Horticulture, and Fruit Production for Profit Certificate through the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Outside of work, Jono enjoys spending time with his young family.
Rachel Walling — Office Administrator
Rachel joined EHC in late 2015 and is the Office Administrator. Rachel has a wealth of kiwifruit experience, having been involved in the industry for a number of years. Previously Rachel worked across a number of areas in her family’s post-harvest business, and more recently she worked for a leading post-harvest facility administering grower payments and forecasting. Rachel is also actively involved in managing her family’s orchard operations and so has a full understanding of on-orchard best practice and budgeting.
Richard Thorn — Senior Orchard Manager
Richard has worked horticulture since 2002. He has extensive experience and knowledge in establishing, growing and managing multiple varieties of stone fruit, apples and kiwifruit, and has qualifications that support this.
“I was placed first in the Young Fruit Grower of the Year (Waikato) competition in 2007 and have gone on to successfully contribute, and work extremely positively, with orchard owners to achieve the absolute best in their kiwifruit crops since.
“I have worked in a variety of roles within the kiwifruit industry which has enabled me to gain a well-rounded approach to successful orchard management. I enjoy working with our orchard owners to achieve their goals and aspirations for their orchards.”
Tony Hooper — Senior Orchard Manager
Tony has spent most of his career based in Te Puke working in different aspects of the kiwifruit industry.
He enjoys working with clients to improve their orchard production and helping them achieve their goals – also known as ‘freeing up time to go fishing!’
Tony and his wife are currently renovating their 1940s home in Te Puke and he enjoys hunting and kayak fishing around the North Island when time allows.
Sandhu Singh — Orchard Manager
Sandhu holds Horticulture and Business Management qualifications and has worked in the Kiwifruit Industry since 2010 in various Management positions in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Sandu has a passion for all aspects in the industry from planting and nurturing the vines to harvesting the fruit. He enjoys working closely with a dedicated team, ensuring that every step meets the highest standards of quality and sustainability. In his free time Sandhu enjoys time with his family and friends.
Amandeep Singh - BK — Orchard Manager
BK commenced work with EHC in 2021 as a Senior Supervisor. With his obvious passion and natural understanding of the industry he has grown in his role and capabilities to become a Junior Orchard Manager. He has proven to be a great team player and has gained the respect with Growers and Managers. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Arshdeep Singh — Orchard Manager
Arshdeep started working with EHC in June 2021, having moved from India in 2019 with a Bachelor of Technology and Mechanical Engineering. These attributes and a strong work ethic and proven his capabilities to work strategically within the industry and has gained a great esteem with our Growers and Team members. In his free time Arshdeep enjoys playing Badminton and Cricket.
Kaea Chappell — Trainee Manager
Ko Haumingi te maunga
Ko Rotoiti te moana
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngāti Rongomai te iwi
Ko Te Hiukura te marae
Ko Rangiuru te maunga
Ko Kaituna te awa
Ko Tapuika te iwi
Ko Ngāti Kuri te hapū
Ko Te Paamu te marae
Kia Ora, I was born and raised in Welcome Bay, Tauranga. I was a bit of a “late bloomer” in terms of my exposure to horticulture, it was at Tauranga Boys College where I decided to give the Ag and Hort course a go and in time I came to find a passion for Horticulture. During the time I spent in the Ag and Hort class I met orchard managers and growers, who showed us around their orchards and talked us through all the different aspects of an orchard. The passion that they had for what they do has always been what I wanted out of a job, meeting these people showed me that horticulture, specifically crop management, was the pathway that I wanted to take after college.
After finishing college, I decided to get some practical experience before I ventured down to Palmerston North to study Horticultural science at Massey University. I got a job with Oropi Management Services (OMS) for the summer, doing jobs like summer pruning, fruit thinning, and girdling. Working in the Kiwifruit orchards gave me a good base in what to expect from working in Horticulture, as well as an idea of what industry I wanted to work in after university.
During my stint at university I continued to work in Kiwifruit over the summers, as well as working for a poplar tree nursery during the winters. This helped me build some practical experience to take into my future career.
After completing my degree I went into job search mode. I took up a job as a Harvest Auditor for EastPack as a means of eventually joining Prospa but decided to email other companies to see if there were other options out there for me. EHC came on to my radar through doing audits on their orchards so I decided to send an email explaining my story and what type of job I was looking for, a couple days later I got an email back from Tom Heeney saying that he was keen to meet me, a week later I met with Tom and Tim Woodward to explain where I was at and what type of job I was looking for, and two weeks after that I accepted an offer from EHC as a Trainee Orchard Manager.
Although I have only been working at EHC for a short period of time I’ve had a blast, I’ve learned something from each of the managers about different tasks and they’re different approaches to the role of an Orchard Manager. I hope to continue developing my skills and building on my knowledge in the coming years to become a great orchard manager myself.
Arapeta Raki — Trainee Manager
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e rau rangitira ma Tēnā koutou katoa
E mihi ana ki ngā mana o tēnei rohe
I te taha o tōku pāpā
Ko Pūtauaki te maunga
Ko Rangitaiki te awa
Ko mātaatua te waka
Ko Ngati awa te iwi
Ko Ngā maihi te hapu
Ko Tūteao te marae
Ko Albert Raki tōku pāpā I te taha o tōku māmā
Ko Taupiri te maunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Tainui te iwi
Ko Nagtii te ata te hapu
Ko Tāhuna pā rāua ko Rere-Tē-Whioi ngā marae
Ko Kui Shortcliffe tōku māmā
Ko Arapeta Raki tōku ingoa
Nō reira tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā tatou kotoa
Kia ora e te whānau, My journey in the kiwi fruit industry has been about working, learning and caring for the whenua that provides for us all.
Born in Tauranga Moana and raised in Te Puke, attending all the schools around Te Puke, Playing rugby was a passion I had at a young age playing for the local team Te Puke Pirates U11-14 and playing in the 1st XV for Te Puke high school teaching me how to work in a team and communication skills which I still use to this day
Starting in kiwi fruit
My start in the kiwi fruit industry was at the young age of 16 getting a job during School holidays with EHC, I’ve also worked in the lab for Eurofins after school, done some packhouse mahi and working in a avocado nursery. At the time I was focused on getting money to my name, but looking back it left me with skills that will progress me further through the industry.
After my high school days, I went to the polytechnic to study automotive, due to the passion I have for cars, and landing me a job in R&R’s working with diesel machines, acquiring skills that would further myself. Horticulture wasn’t really something I saw myself pursuing, with time comes change, I developed a keen interest in growing vegetables and fruits for Sustainability.
I joined EHC full time in 2020, I was just an orchard worker doing all the Mahi whether it was girdling young vine work, frost protection, counting fruit buds, just things EHC need us to do but mainly just working with development blocks and young plants to establish good leaders. I drove tractors and forklifts during harvest and occasionally supervising. In the recent year I’ve been offered a manager role and decided to take it on, now I’m a manager in training and ready to start a new journey
Why I do what I do
As a Māori outdoors is a place that makes me feel at home, and for me to be able to work in a environment like this is somewhat of a paradise, making what was a flat landscape into whenua that provides us food for generations is something I want to be a part of, when I’m not working spending time with whānau is my go to but lately I’ve been learning about Tikanga Māori (Māori customs) which makes me feel even more connected to the whenua that provides for us
What’s next
For me, learning all I can to help improve my knowledge and understanding of kiwi orchards and improvements I can make to insure the health environment for the orchard and the people who are on sight the journey will be.