Hastings digger driver Pearl Jury reckons girls can do anything
Pearl Jury made history in 2018 by becoming the first woman to achieve her Civil Trade Certificate in New Zealand.
Right now, she is working on Hastings District Council’s new Te Pōhue water treatment site. That project is part of the council’s Hastings Drinking Water Strategy, which includes upgrading all small community water supplies across the district.
The list of projects that Jury has worked on across Hawke’s Bay and beyond is impressive – she and her digger have helped build airstrips, dams, subdivisions, the Hastings-Napier expressway, and the region’s newest major road, Te Ara Kahikatea.
Her advice to young women who love being outdoors and are deciding on their career options is to think about heavy machinery operation.
“It is fantastic; I love every minute of it. There’s something special about driving over or looking at projects you’ve been involved in and feeling a real level of satisfaction.”
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.2% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.1% Critical thinking
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29.9% Resilience and adaptability
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2.8% Other - I will share below!
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