Tuesday, 05 October 2021 08:55

Visa changes welcomed

Written by  Peter Burke
The Government's belated announcement to free up visa arrangements for up to 9,000 migrant workers in the primary sector has been welcomed. The Government's belated announcement to free up visa arrangements for up to 9,000 migrant workers in the primary sector has been welcomed.

There's been a swift and positive response from the red meat and dairy sectors to the Government's belated announcement to free up visa arrangements for up to 9,000 migrant workers in the primary sector.

A much simplified system will be introduced for these people to gain NZ residency - something industry groups have been pleading with Government to fo for months due to labour shortages right across the primary sector. It follows an earlier announcement that will see quarantine free travel for RSE workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the announcement will deliver much needed certainty to the industry - especially in respect of halal slaughtermen.

"Halal processing is a core part of the New Zealand meat processing industry with approximately 43% of New Zealand total red meat exports halal certified for Muslim consumers in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries," she says. "Without halal butchers, there is a real potential that plants would be forced to reduce value-add processing or decide to not save certain products."

But Karapeeva says the decision is only part of the solution and the industry is seeking a more permanent solution that will simplify the entry of migrant halal butchers  - such as a special visa.

The move has also been welcomed by DairyNZ with chief executive Tim Mackle saying it's pleasing to see Government acknowledging the pressure farmers are under, due to being short-staffed, and recognise the critical role international workers play on NZ farms.

"While this decision is positive, it doesn't fully address the scale of the staff shortages on farm - dairy farmers are still short of an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 workers," Mackle says.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor agrees and says immigration is one way to source people. However, he adds there is a need to attract more New Zealanders into life on the land and our primary sector supply chains.

More like this

On your behalf

Immigration changes deliver confidence and certainty for seasonal workforce needs

Visa changes bring fresh woes

Rural Contractors NZ says members are frustrated at having to work through more layers to get visas approved for skilled seasonal machinery operators ahead of the imminent season start. Andrew Olsen comments.

Featured

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

Editorial: Keep FTAs coming

OPINION: The dairy industry will  be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter