COVID-19: DairyNZ’s plan for job shortages

By the end of September, around 2500 visas are due to expire for migrant staff currently working on dairy farms. Many are based in Canterbury, Waikato, Southland and Otago. Both farmers and farm staff are desperately seeking certainty. 

According to DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle, it’s estimated that even if all migrant dairy workers currently in New Zealand were retained, there could be a shortfall of up to 1000 employees for the coming dairy season.

Mackle says this suggests that a two-pronged approach to address the staffing shortfall is needed. This will include both retaining our migrant workforce and recruiting new Kiwis into our dairy sector.

“This is a difficult situation for farmers to face – particularly when our migrant teams are so valued,” he says. “We are committed to employing New Zealanders and plans are in place for a programme to retrain and redeploy people into the dairy sector.”

However, Mackle says there is also a need to protect and retain our current migrant staff who are part of farm teams across the country.

DairyNZ and Federated Farmers are currently working together to seek clarification on visa status for migrant staff who are in New Zealand as skilled and valued farm workers.

Mackle says experienced migrant staff currently in New Zealand will be important in supporting dairy to play its part in the recovery of New Zealand’s economy. 

“These people are needed on farms to milk the cows and keep businesses running, especially in the short-term over the busy calving time from July to October.”

DairyNZ and Federated Farmers are seeking extensions on existing visas to ensure migrant staff can continue working in the short to medium term while Kiwis get onboard and up to speed.