2012-13 GUIDELINES FOR WORK VISA APPLICATIONS IN THE NZ DAIRY INDUSTRY
Position
Salary*
Dairy Farm
Worker (DFW)
Both North and South
Island:
$37-38,000 base salary
pa + benefits
Qualifications and
Work Experience
Do not require formal
qualifications, but do
require skills
developed on the job
and/or recognisable
and credible training.
Benefits equate to
approx $1-2,000 (or
above)
Dairy Assistant
Herd Manager
Hourly rate $15-16
North Island:
$43-44,000 base salary
pa + benefits
Benefits equate to
approx $2-3,000 (or
above)
Hourly rate $18-19
South Island:
$44-45,000 base salary
pa + benefits
Benefits equate to
approx $2-3,000 (or
above)
Hourly rate $17-18
ISSL requirements:
National Certificate in
Agriculture Level 2
OR two or more
years work
experience relative to
those criteria listed in
the job description.
Labour Market
Check (LMC)
Under the
Essential Skills
work policy, a
LMC must be
conducted with
Work & Income
NZ.
If the ISSL
requirements are
met, no LMC will
be required.
Other factors to take into consideration
- Size of the farm. For example, a farm that
has less than 600 cows may not require a
Dairy Assistant Herd Manager.
- Number of employees and the capacity with
which they are employed. For example, a
farm that already employs one Dairy
Assistant Herd Manager may not require
another.
- Employers are strongly advised for DFW
roles to seek Work & Income NZ support up
front, before an application is lodged.
- Where the employer is seeking a DFW, has
not supplied any evidence of Work & Income
NZ support, and the LMC notes no shortage
of NZers available for the role, the following
factors may be taken into consideration:
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Amount of advertising provided by the
employer
Appropriateness of the skills and
experience required
Period of advertising the position
Location of advertising
Region of employment
Other Labour Market Checks recently
conducted within the region
Dairy Herd
Manager
North Island:
$47-48,000 base salary
(or above) + benefits
Benefits equate to
approx $4,000 or above
Hourly rate $19-20
South Island:
$48-49,000 base salary
(or above) + benefits
ISSL requirements:
National Certificate in
Agriculture
Level 2 or above
AND minimum of
two years’
relevant experience.
If the ISSL
requirements are
met, no LMC will
be required.
- The salary an individual receives should be
commensurate with their qualifications and
experience.
- Farming contracts need to be clear
regarding overtime pay and weekly
minimum/maximum hours worked.
Benefits equate to
approx $3,000 or above
Hourly rate $19-20
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that the content in this table is a guide only. This table simply provides some relevant information about the
dairy industry. Every application must be considered on its own merits and assessed against Immigration instructions.
* Salary details, rates and conditions have been based on the information published in the 2012 Federated Farmers of New Zealand Remuneration Report. We have used ‘mean’
details as a basis for salary data, as opposed to the ‘median’.
Position Description**
Dairy Farm
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Worker
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Assistant Herd
Manager
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Dairy Herd
Manager
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patrolling, inspecting and reporting on the condition of livestock
providing livestock with feed and water
assisting with maintaining the health and welfare of livestock
mustering and droving livestock to milking and shearing sheds and between paddocks to ensure sufficient feed
is available
washing and cleaning udders, and attaching milking machines to udders and milking cows
may work unsupervised
stock management – experience in deciding where the cows will go (which paddock), stock handling
experience
fertiliser programme – previously applied fertiliser.
breeding management – identifying cows on heat
some prior involvement with feed allocation or nutrition management
animal health management – identifying and treating basic animal health problems eg: mastitis, milk fever,
lameness
demonstrates good communication skills
experience working in a team
experience in machinery operation eg: tractors, implements, motorbikes, ATV’s.
breeding and raising livestock for the production of honey, meat, milk, skins, eggs and wool
monitoring and maintaining the health and condition of livestock
providing pastures and fodder to maintain appropriate nutritional levels
moving livestock to optimise feeding opportunities
organising and conducting farming operations such as catching, drenching and milking livestock, sterilising
machines, and collecting, grading and packaging produce
directing and overseeing general farming activities such as maintaining pens, sheds and cages, fertilising,
controlling pests and weeds, and growing fodder
maintaining fences, equipment and water supply systems
organising the sale, purchase and transportation of livestock and produce
maintaining and evaluating records of farming activities, monitoring market activity and planning production
accordingly
managing business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management
may select, train and supervise staff and contractors
** Position description based on information submitted previously by the Federated Farmers of New Zealand submissions to Immigration NZ on the occupational shortages reviews,
and ANZSCO.