The impending visa crunch is directly linked to recent policy adjustments affecting ANZSCO Level 4 and 5 roles, which encompass a large proportion of dairy farm assistants. These positions now have a maximum stay of three years, meaning many workers hired during the 2022-2023 peak will soon reach their limit. Furthermore, new rules dictate that these Level 4 and 5 workers must pass an English language test to secure a 12-month visa extension, or face a mandatory year-long departure from New Zealand before they can reapply, creating fresh hurdles for migrant dairy workers.

Karl Dean, Federated Farmers’ dairy chair and immigration spokesperson, underscored the critical need for proactive planning from employers. While not every visa holder will be forced to leave, the sheer volume of upcoming expiries demands immediate attention. Dean emphasized the importance of checking Immigration NZ’s requirements without delay and initiating early conversations with staff. He warned that the worst-case scenario involves farms losing valuable, well-trained personnel simply due to administrative oversight or inadequate preparation.

To mitigate the anticipated impact, dairy farmers have several pathways for retaining their skilled international dairy workers. Options include reapplying for a new AEWV under the updated criteria. Crucially, if there are no suitable New Zealanders available for higher-skilled positions, farmers can consider promoting staff to roles like herd manager. This is classified as a Green List occupation, offering a potential pathway to residency, provided workers meet specific pay and experience thresholds.