Working in New Zealand.

Gone Shooting

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
hereford
Youngest (24) missed out last season due to covid the chance to work the winter in NZ or Australia after finishing at Reaseheath. Hopes to pack his bags this autumn after harvest here - experienced with large modern kit esp Fendts etc . We were told of a contractor in New Zealand by the name of Will ( jns ? ) in South Island who is very good - anyone have any ideas or any contacts with a modern crew who work and play hard . Charlie is a skilled driver and gets on with anyone - thanks for any replies.
 

Tubbylew

Member
Location
Herefordshire
Did a little bit for gavin grain near hamilton, they seemed fine, but driving tractors wasn't really my bag, (prefered the shearing)also pye contracting in the south island was where someone I know had a blast. Nearly wish I could go again!
 

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Crikey. Take your pick, if you can get in. They were all screaming for operators!

Quiet season now so a great time to sort something out for the springtime, most operators will be slightly cagey after being told to "just employ kiwis then" last year, employing people who have no skills other than Snapchat tends to make you cagey...
 

stewart

Member
Horticulture
Location
Bay of Plenty NZ
Youngest (24) missed out last season due to covid the chance to work the winter in NZ or Australia after finishing at Reaseheath. Hopes to pack his bags this autumn after harvest here - experienced with large modern kit esp Fendts etc . We were told of a contractor in New Zealand by the name of Will ( jns ? ) in South Island who is very good - anyone have any ideas or any contacts with a modern crew who work and play hard . Charlie is a skilled driver and gets on with anyone - thanks for any replies.
Take your pick, there are plenty to choose from. Be prepared for him not to come back. Friends of ours sent their son over for a couple of months over 2 years ago, he's still here with no intention of returning.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
As far as I know there are still restrictions on who they are letting in, so I doubt it will be through the working holiday visa, so he will need a job offer from a specific employer who will then have to get permission to bring someone in and get a spot in quarantine etc.
I think (its been a while) that means you're stuck to one employer so if you don't get on or they run out of work - which can be very common in a dry time - you can't move on.
It may be different in a few months but the PM doesn't seem keen to change border status.
Best advice I can give is find a contractor/farmer who has a range of work and doesn't just rely on one thing like silage.
 
As far as I know there are still restrictions on who they are letting in, so I doubt it will be through the working holiday visa, so he will need a job offer from a specific employer who will then have to get permission to bring someone in and get a spot in quarantine etc.
I think (its been a while) that means you're stuck to one employer so if you don't get on or they run out of work - which can be very common in a dry time - you can't move on.
It may be different in a few months but the PM doesn't seem keen to change border status.
Best advice I can give is find a contractor/farmer who has a range of work and doesn't just rely on one thing like silage.
Figger something out, work on the chance that the border strategy may change or be prepared for the possibility in advance so to be at the front of the que.
Doing nothing will achieve nothing.
 

Baker7810

Member
Location
Herefordshire
Went out there in November for my 3rd season working for Wanaka Ag. They were members of the Rural Contractors Group out there so they were able to apply for slots to get overseas workers in, so my friend ( on his 2nd season) and I were invited to apply for critical work visas and after a few Covid tests, lots of paperwork and 2 weeks in an isolation hotel we got there. All costs covered by work for us. Hopefully restrictions will be eased this year and be easier to get in, or otherwise they will probably do the same again. Have a good look around on Facebook and Instagram, there are loads of contractors out there and don’t just get drawn in by the big outfits with shiny gear, the smaller guys will treat you like family, pay you well and show you how to drink beer!
 

Hilly

Member
The key to going abroad is to get in and involved with local community.
Worse thing you can do IMHO is go with a bunch of mates.
Go alone and make new mates!
I’ve seen this when folk move to Scotland , the ones that move here and do as the Romans do get on grand and stay for ever , the ones that run back to where they came from all the time and harp on how much better it is where they came from only last five mins before they moving back.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 35.1%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.0%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,290
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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