Mainfreight's Plested wants a better class act

Mainfreight's Plested wants a better class act
Mainfreight has a global team of 9,250. (Image: Supplied)
Brent Melville
The education system is to blame for a shortage of skilled workers in New Zealand, says Mainfreight chair Bruce Plested. The outspoken founder of Mainfreight told shareholders at the company’s 26th annual meeting that only 60% of Kiwi children were regularly attending school.“In the past 20 years, we have dropped from being near the top of the world in reading and maths, to now being close to the bottom.”This meant the country had been forced to grab skilled workers from overseas, “because they have the skills and w...

More Infrastructure

Auckland housing project withdrawn from fast-track
Policy

Auckland housing project withdrawn from fast-track

The developer plans to lodge a fresh application after draft decline.

150 years of infrastructure spending going ‘boom’
Infrastructure

150 years of infrastructure spending going ‘boom’

We actually spend a lot more on infrastructure than you might think.

Construction suicide costs at $1.3 billion
Infrastructure

Construction suicide costs at $1.3 billion

A survey found that almost one in five workers reported suicidal thoughts.

Chido Machingura 12 Sep 2025
F&P Healthcare one step closer to new Karaka campus
Policy

F&P Healthcare one step closer to new Karaka campus

Auckland Council has approved a request to rezone nearly 90ha going to hearings.

Oliver Lewis 12 Sep 2025