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Federated Farmers immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis.
Federated Farmers says it is pleased to see more international dairy farm workers will be able to cross the border for the 2022 dairy season.
"Farms are short thousands of staff and with continued low domestic unemployment, workers from overseas are the only option to plug the gaps in many parts of New Zealand," says Federated Farmers National Board member and immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis.
"Many dairy farms are desperate to get teams back up to strength prior to calving and today’s announcement will provide a measure of relief."
Federated Farmers has worked with the Ministry for Social Development for over a year to attract more than 525 people to work in the sector through the http://www.getkiwisonfarm.nz programme.
"If we want Kiwis to see an attractive future in the industry and to stop burning out our existing workers, we need the right number of people to staff our farms.
"Every employer wants to offer a favourable work roster and more days off, but without enough people to employ this isn’t possible," Lewis says.
The new class exception will allow 300 international dairy workers to enter New Zealand. Employers can apply through DairyNZ for nomination and have a class exception visa granted by Immigration New Zealand. A class exception is already open which allows 200 dairy workers to enter New Zealand, and has been partially filled.
For both class exceptions, workers are able to enter New Zealand from 5 March.
Every industry that has relied on an international workforce in the past is crying out for workers.
"Federated Farmers has advocated strongly and consistently for the agricultural sector, now it is up to the farmers to fill these exception spots," says Lewis.
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OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.
OPINION: Environment Canterbury's (ECan) decision recently to declare a so-called “nitrate emergency” is laughable.
A shameless political stunt is how Federated Farmers is describing the Canterbury Regional Council decision to declare “a nitrate emergency” on the back of its latest annual groundwater quality survey.
Federated Farmers say Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a 'nitrate emergency' is a shameless political stunt that won't help anyone.
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DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
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