West Auckland butcher receives 1000 applications for meat packer role
Tuesday 13 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Morning Report, Seek
Reuben Sharples, the managing director of Aussie Butcher in New Lynn, received over 1000 CVs for a single full-time meat packer position. He noted that many applicants possessed skill sets far exceeding the requirements for the job.
Key facts
4 facts
- Reuben Sharples received over 1000 CVs for a meat packer job in New Lynn
- Applicants included a computer engineer and an aviation security expert
- Three people were hired for the role, including an apprentice
- The New Zealand unemployment rate is at its highest level in over a decade
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Reuben Sharples, the managing director of Aussie Butcher in New Lynn, received more than 1000 CVs for a single full-time meat packer position. The applications included 120 emails and approximately 870 through SEEK. Sharples noted that applications were still arriving at the time of his report.
The applicant pool featured individuals with high-level expertise, including a computer engineer, several rest home workers, and a person with 20 years of experience in aviation security. Sharples remarked that the calibre of applicants was so high he felt he could have built "something to go to Mars". He described the skill sets of some candidates as being "10, 20 times" what the role required.
Following the recruitment process, Sharples hired three people, one of whom is an apprentice. He advised job seekers to use family and friend networks and to avoid appearing for interviews accompanied by parents. He also encouraged applicants to remain positive during their search.
Compiled from reports by 1News and Otago Daily Times.