The many farmers who are also landlords will want to check whether and how the second phase of changes under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020 will impact them. The first phase of changes took effect from August last year, with the major reform being that rent increases were from then limited to once every […]
Employment
Nominations open for 2021 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards
Entries are open for the 2021 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards. The Awards, run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT), celebrate primary sector employers who demonstrate exceptional employment practices. “The Primary Industries Good Employer Awards provide the opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding employers […]
WOMOLife Wins Wool Harvesting Training Contract
Kaiaka Wool Industry Training NZ has awarded the contract for its new $1.8 million pilot training programme to multi-format training provider WOMOLife. Kaiaka will train up to 270 shearers and wool handlers and create 150 new jobs. At least 70% of new employees will be Māori. Kaiaka will also establish two wool harvesting (shearing and […]
Federated Farmers hails pragmatic migrant worker visa decisions
Farmers and growers up and down the land will be pleased with the pragmatic decision by government to extend visas for migrant workers already on our shores. “The six-month extension for employer-assisted work visa holders and the postponed stand down period for low-paid Essential Skills via holders will come as a relief for the primary […]
Could you be a mentor for winners of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award?
Eight winners of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award are seeking mentors to support them in reaching their personal, business and career goals. The 6-month mentoring programme will start at the beginning on 2021. The Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award was inaugurated in 2012, recognising the success of young Māori making their careers in the agricultural sector. […]
Ravensdown CEO to step down
Greg Campbell, Chief Executive of Ravensdown has notified the Board that he will be leaving the role and has given six months’ notice. This gives the Board time to search for a suitable replacement for Greg who has been CEO of the farmer-owned co-operative for eight years. Greg explained that the time felt right to […]
Animal welfare clock ticking on shearer border decision
Federated Farmers and the Shearing Contractors Association are looking for an urgent decision from the government to allow experienced sheep shearers into the country. “We’ve been reminding the government since late winter we are going to have increasing urgency around the need for shearers this summer,” Federated Farmers immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis says. As the […]
Providers wanted for new $1.8m wool training programme
The wool industry is seeking providers for its new $1.8 m pilot training programme – Kaiaka Wool Industry Training NZ. Declining sheep numbers, poor wool prices and Covid border restrictions have combined to create a serious shortage of shearers in New Zealand. NZ Shearing Contractors’ Association chief executive Phil Holden says: “The ratio of shearers […]
Quarantine pressure thwarts critical worker flow
Serious gaps in the agricultural contracting workforce have consequences such as animal feed shortages and risks to getting arable crops in next summer, Federated Farmers says. “After favourable rain in many parts of the North Island in the last month, there’s a big emphasis on making grass silage to help cope if predicted droughts take […]
Staff shortages are undermining safety, mental wellbeing
Skilled staff shortages are not only taking a toll on productivity but also farmer mental wellbeing, Federated Farmers Dairy Chair and rural health spokesperson Wayne Langford says. “Farmers across New Zealand are having to push the limits to get silage/baleage cut, with many crops in the South Island being harvested when it’s wet. “With variable […]