Work visa feedback urged

Southland farmers are urged to have their say about ways to make it easier for migrant workers to get visas, to alleviate the labour shortage in the region, dubbed the worst affected in New Zealand by a leading immigration expert.

Public consultation began in November for farmers and the public to give feedback on recommendations that would impact on six temporary work visa categories for essential skills including the Essential Skills in Demand Lists.

Consultation would end on March 18.

DairyNZ Southland/South Otago regional leader Richard Kyte said labour shortages were ‘‘a very real challenge on farm’’ in the regions, and that DairyNZ would be representing farmers views on the subject for the consultation.

The hoped for end result would be more certainty and better visa conditions for both employers and migrant workers, with a final decision following the consultation expected to be made by mid-2019, Kyte said.

Southland Federated Farmers dairy group chairman Hadleigh Germann said science and technology would be important tools in helping extract more addedvalue products from milk to chase the export dollars in the coming year.

However, the most immediate challenge was the availability of qualified staff, he said.

‘‘It’s worth noting recent government policy has made sourcing quality immigrant staff difficult as other countries have become more attractive.’’

New Zealand First MP and spokesman for agriculture Mark Patterson said staffing would continue to be a big issue this year in the region.

‘‘We must train more young Kiwis, and Telford students, and we should allow skilled migrants to stay.’’

It was reported in October that Southland immigrant dairy farm workers were heading overseas for jobs because of visa concerns in New Zealand.

New Zealand’s immigration policy requires holders of lowskilled work visa to be stood down after three years.

The policy states that, at the end of three consecutive one-year visas, the worker must leave the country for one year.

The Government had given notice that it would start enforcing the stand-down in August 2020.

The Regions Immigration Law and Recruitment managing director and dairy industry immigration lawyer Ben De’Ath welcomed the Government review.

Earlier this month he presented a 7500-signature petition presented to Parliament on bettering immigration policies that negatively affect the industry.

‘‘Nowhere was this situation more evident than in Southland,’’ De’Ath said.