Awatea Jobe

Awatea is a passionate horticulture professional of Ngāti Awa descent, currently working as an Orchard Leading Hand with Craigmore Sustainables across the Glenpark and Sunpark orchards in Patutahi and Te Karaka. Beginning her career as a contractor, she has worked her way up through dedication, adaptability, and strong leadership, now supervising teams of up to 15 workers across a range of orchard operations including pruning, thinning, harvest, tree training, and pest management. Passionate about creating opportunities for wāhine in horticulture, Awatea brings confidence, resilience, and strong people skills to the industry. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active through netball and the gym, while also spending time with her partner and pets at their rural home in Ormond.