Feds applaud National Party focus on primary sector issues

Federated Farmers Dairy chair and immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis. Photo / Supplied

Federated Farmers says dairy farm worker visas should last two to three times longer.

Workforce issues are a focus of the National Party's Primary Sector Discussion Document released today.

National is proposing better promotion of primary sector careers and increased vocational training opportunities.

It is also floating the idea of an Agriculture Visa for migrant workers and nine-month dairy farm placements under an expanded RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) scheme.

Commenting on the document, Federated Farmers Dairy chair and immigration spokesperson Chris Lewis said their biggest issue was that almost all dairy farm worker visas were now only for 12 months.

"We see longer visas of two or three years as far less bureaucratic and costly at a time of worker shortages. If we moved to this, it would be a reduced workload for Immigration NZ, which would help with their backlog."

Lewis said the first priority of the primary industries was always training New Zealanders with the right attitude to work on our farms.

"But with worker shortages in some regions, migrant workers are also vital to productivity and progress. Whatever government is in power needs to give Immigration NZ the policy settings and resources to meet industry and exporter needs," he said.

Listen to Jamie Mackay interview National Party Leader Simon Bridges and Agricultural spokesman Nathan Guy at Fieldays below:

"For example, complaints about the delays in processing visas for migrant workers desperately needed in our primary industries aren't being addressed with sufficient vigour. It also seems clear that the student education, hospitality, retail and rest home care sectors are feeling similarly frustrated."

Federated Farmers was pleased National's discussion paper recognised the important part the primary sector played in the New Zealand economy - particularly the social and economic prosperity of provincial New Zealand.

"It's good to see that biosecurity is another key plank of the document and that tougher penalties are proposed for visitors and importers who bring in items that are a threat to our crops and biodiversity," Lewis said.