OPINION: Recent proposals by the Government to make it easier for regions to get workers look like a step — if not a leap — in the right direction.

A 7,500 signature petition was presented to parliament last week calling for changes to NZ’s immigration laws.

OPINION: Immigration NZ should attract immigrants to our primary sector as well as they attract overseas investors and entrepreneurs to our economy.

A government policy of a compulsory stand-down that would send home certain migrant workers after three years is a ‘vote-catcher’ they don’t intend to implement, says immigration law specialist Ben De’Ath.

Most migrant applicants for a special South Island Contribution Work Visa are in farming, as shown by figures from Immigration NZ.

DairyNZ says proposed new rules on migrant workers will make it harder to employ and retain good staff.

A reprieve for some Filipino dairy workers on dodgy visas has been welcomed by the immigrant community.

It was interesting to read how the Government has made changes to immigration rules to help Queenstown employers recruit much-needed temporary staff.

More calls are fielded by Federated Farmers Southland about tough immigration criteria for migrants than about any other issue, says the region’s president Russell MacPherson.

Rural Contractors are backing the Government's plans to encourage more New Zealanders into seasonal work; they also support its decision to increase the annual recognised seasonal employer (RSE) cap to a total of 9000 workers.