As essential workers, Shearers across Central Otago have been working diligently under Alert Level 4 in order to keep the industry moving. 

Shearers are deemed essential under Alert Level 4, and keep to their bubbles and adhere to strict protocols to get their seasonal work done. 

Peter Lyon Shearing has been working with Rough Ridge at the Ida Valley farm for over two decades. The Central App caught them shearing fine wool sheep while in Level 4. 

Aaron McKenzie, referred to as the Ganger ("the boss"), leads his team as they work tirelessly. 

At a 5am start, they sit around in their work bubble, which is made up of about 80 people, and get ready for the long day’s work. 

Breakfast is supplied while they plan on the whiteboard who is going where, with what people. 

Then form the gang for the day, and off they go.

Shearers are deemed essential workers under Alert Level 4 and operate in bubbles.  Aaron McKenzie "the boss"

They arrived promptly at 6.30am to Rough Ridge, with snacks in hand, and a large slow cooker filled with food for their lunch, supplied by Peter Lyon.

"We love working for Peter and Elsie as they are so well organised and nothing is ever a problem," says Aaron.

“It’s a great job, as you get to work with people from all walks of life and different cultures.”

In Aaron’s gang there were English, Australians and Americans who have worked around the world shearing, but of course, Kiwis made up the majority. 

Paul Astin, on his second visit to Rough Ridge, is originally from South Dakota.

"From my experience conditions for shearing in NZ are way better,” he says. “Due to farmers caring about their animals better, they provide better working conditions and take better care of their wool here."

When asked what brought him here, he says "sheep, and my wife Helen," with a grin.  

The team were quick to pull him up by putting sheep first. The banter is part of what gets shearers through their day.

"We have a lot of laughs, and we never take a day's work for granted," he says. 

Wool is key for Central Otago’s economy and shearers have been hard at work.

You have to be fit and healthy to be a shearer, the days of drinking beer at the end of the day are near gone.

Most are non-drinkers and care about what they feed their bodies and minds. A long way from the stereotypical shearer images of the days past. 

Although the jokes and banter haven't changed much.

Kristal Wilson is a wool classer and also helps Peter Lyon out when required.  

The McKnights, of Rough Ridge and the Ida Valley, have been working with Kristal since 2015.

“No covid calories coming on these guys,” she jokes. 

Kristal loves her job and says it is not only the people that keep her returning, but burning the calories every day.

“I've lost 40kgs since I started this job.”

Rough Ridge owners Father and Son team, Murray and Fraser McKnight says they will do “around 21 tonne of wool per season”. The average shearer will do about 250 sheep a day of fine wool.

Enough to make the eyes water, and the back break. 

Next time you see one of the many vans of shearers driving past, say hi with a wave. They are our unsung heroes of this community.