News & Events
Rural Contractors News
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Rural Contractors NZ is the voice for the $1.5b rural contracting industry accounting for 0.8% of GDP and 0.9% of national employment. Source: Infometrics 2018 report available here
RCNZ media releases and comments below – or contact our Communications advisor Brendon Burns (0274 305501)
Media Comments
Government move stops way short of what’s needed
Rural contractors say allowing in 125 skilled agricultural machinery operators next season falls way short of what’s needed to prevent dangerous work pressures causing severe stress and fatigue and impacts on agricultural production. Monday’s Government...
Twice as many skilled imports required – rural contractors
Rural contractors say they will continue to train and recruit more Kiwis but to meet farming requirements next season they need to bring in double the number of skilled machinery operators seen here in 2020/21. A survey of Rural Contractor NZ members has shown while...
Getting the drift on agrichemicals
Anyone using agrichemicals as part of their job – or overseeing or monitoring such use - is being invited to attend update sessions being held across New Zealand in May. The ‘Agrichemical Afternoons’ bring together speakers from Rural Contractors NZ, Growsafe,...
Rural contractors reflect need for rain across much of NZ
An urgent need for rain is the most pressing issue seen by rural contractors. The March meeting of the Rural Contractors NZ Board heard from members about dry conditions affecting areas from Northland to central Otago. Wanaka-based representative Richard Woodhead says...
Perfect conditions and absentees see noxious weed spreading
The invasive weed velvetleaf is taking advantage of perfect growing conditions to spread in various parts of New Zealand this summer and into autumn, warns Rural Contractors NZ vice-president Helen Slattery. She says there have been new finds of velvetleaf in...
Rural contractors face climatic mixed bag and inexperienced labour
New Zealand’s rural contractors are facing a mixed bag of conditions from drought in Northland to a cracker season in Southland. They’re also reporting some labour issues with inexperienced Kiwis causing damage to machinery and pumping up insurance claims. The Rural...
Radio NZ story – Red tape obstructing access to overseas workers
Rural contractors say red tape obstructing access to overseas workers By Sally Round and Riley Kennedy of RNZ. The rural contracting industry says red tape means they can't make the most of some overseas workers who've been allowed into the country. Last year, with...
Lack of isolation facilities leaves rural contracting in crisis
A shortage of Managed Isolation Quarantine facilities is the latest delay facing rural contractors who now say they are at crisis level in attempting to bring in sufficient foreign skilled machinery operators to meet seasonal demand. Rural Contractors New Zealand CEO...
Cannabis reform would increase health and safety risks say rural contractors
Rural contractors are concerned that a referendum vote in favour of legalising cannabis would lead to more risks around drug-affected people working in the industry, which is entirely focused on the use of machinery. At a recent board meeting of Rural Contractors NZ...
Photo evidence not essays, new tool in rural contractor training
A new ‘user-friendly’, fees free qualification has gained a big thumbs up from Rural Contractors New Zealand for workplace evidence such as photos being accepted as one way to recognise the skills of people working in rural contracting. The New Zealand Certification...
Skilled imports a key to farm production
Column for Southern Rural Life July 2020 By David Kean, President, Rural Contractors NZ Right now, the rural contracting industry needs around 700 skilled machinery operators for the coming season to support New Zealand farmers. That’s been shown by a survey we did...
Rural contractors survey members amid rising concerns
An urgently-arranged meeting last Thursday with Primary Industries Minister Damien O’Connor has seen Rural Contractors NZ surveying members to determine how many skilled machinery operators need to be brought in for the coming spring/summer season. RCNZ president...
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