Balers sitting idle!

Hawke says his company normally employs up to five Englishmen but getting overseas workers during the pandemic has been tough.

"I built up my business thinking I will have four balers working full-time but I end up with two balers sitting idle," he told Rural News.

"These machines cost $200,000 each but they are not making me money at the moment and workload is piling up.

"If these balers were going, we'd be right on top of things. It's very frustrating."

Phil Hawke Contracting is one of many rural contractors struggling to secure experienced drivers from the UK to work here. Securing MIQ spots remains the biggest hurdle.

Rural contractors were told in mid-December they could bring in 200 more skilled machinery operators, but have not yet seen a single arrival given MIQ space.

Rural Contractors NZ chief executive Andrew Olsen says despite the best efforts of MPI staff to help find MIQ beds for the approved operators, the indications now are that few, if any, will be available until March at the earliest for rural contractors.

"This will mean many of them will pass on the option to bring workers in. It's just too late, too hard and too stressful for contractors who are working their guts out trying to help farmers get in crop and ensure animals can be fed."

Hawke says his son posted a message on Facebook seeking overseas machinery operators: 25 experienced Irishmen applied.

While all had glowing CVs and proper documentation, none were able to secure MIQ spots.

Hawke says UK machine operators love working in NZ and their presence also benefit the local economy.

"Most of them are on work/holiday visas; they are very well paid by us and after their contracts are over they spend time travelling through the country.

"They spend most of their money within New Zealand and I think our hospitality sector needs those types of visitor right now."

To accommodate the overseas workers, Hawke had a home built in Waikato. The house has been rented out for the past few years.

Hawke says he has tried to employ locals but there aren't too many experienced local drivers around.

"They just don't have the experience. We do special tasks: maize planting and baler operations and we also operate in high country.

"They are trying their best but the experience isn't there."

Hawke doesn't believe he will get any overseas machine operators for the maize planting season kicking off this month.

"Hoperfully by spring, things will change because we cannot afford another season without these workers."

Layers of Frustration

Rural Contractors chief executive Andrew Olsen says getting MIQ space is like peeling an onion.

“It’s layer after layer and it brings tears of frustration for our members who are already working impossibly long hours and as yet have not even been able to lodge Expressions of Interest for staff positions which ministers had approved to come in.”

Olsen wants the Ministers of Immigration and Agriculture and the Prime Minister’s Office to meet the urgency of the situation.

“We received approval December 12 and now more than a month on we’re looking at another two months before the first arrivals.

“It’s not good enough. The primary sector needs more support, now, and frankly the current situation our members find themselves in doesn’t cut it.”

Olsen says his organisation and Federated Farmers, supported by MPI, have done everything they could to help contractors meet a crushing labour shortage.

“We understand and respect that the resurgence of another Covid variant and border entry changes have put the squeeze on MIQ.

“That said, those risks would have been part of the assessment when we had ministerial approval just on a month ago to bring in the desperately needed 200 machinery operators.

“Now, rural contractors whose work is essential to food production and our export economy, find themselves towards the back of the MIQ queue.”