News & Events

Stressed rural contractors, told in mid-December they could bring in 200 more skilled machinery operators, have not yet seen a single arrival given any MIQ space. Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew Olsen says despite the best efforts of MPI staff to help find MIQ beds...

Yesterday’s closure of the border must not be allowed to scupper last week’s Government announcement that 200 skilled machinery operators can come from overseas to the rescue of rural contractors and farmers. That’s the call today from Rural Contractors NZ CEO Andrew...

Rural contractors are relieved at today’s announcement that 200 skilled machinery operators can enter the country – but say the timing is now critical. Andrew Olsen, Rural Contractors NZ CEO, says he will be working on this with officials over the next two weeks. “I...

The shortage of skilled agricultural machinery operators is reaching a crisis point say rural contractors, with many unable to meet farmer requirements and increasing fears for their health and safety. Andrew Olsen, CEO of Rural Contractors NZ says an urgent meeting...

The Rural Contractors NZ Board has agreed to help fund a HanzonJobs initiative alongside support of $140,000 from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to train and mentor young people working with contractors around the country. It is being launched today....

Rural contractors facing desperate shortages of skilled staff can now tap into the training of 200 new industry trainees who will use an app to record and document their work. The Rural Contractors NZ Board last week agreed to help fund the HanzonJobs programme which...

Some rural contractors in Southland are saying this is the wettest spring in 30 years, says Rural Contractors NZ board member Daryl Thompson, impacting on already short supplies of feed. In Zone reports to last week’s Board meeting, he said the constant rain in the...

Some free insurance given to all RCNZ members by American Income Life (AIL)  has now had around 75 responses from members who've chosen to add further to the free offer. All members of Rural Contractors NZ are now covered by a $1,500 Accidental Death &...

Rural contactors around most of the country are being offered a free visit and workshop to alert them to biosecurity risks. A key focus is on velvetleaf, an invasive weed with incursions in nearly every region of New Zealand. A member of the mallow family, velvetleaf...

Rural contractors say while they welcome signals the Government is recognising labour pressures in the farming sector, another challenge looms in their efforts to recruit enough skilled staff to keep New Zealand farms in production. Andrew Olsen, CEO Rural Contractors...