Approved classes of 'Other Critical Workers'

Employers may request entry approval for critical workers in some classes.

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• Teachers
• General practice veterinarians
• Mixed and large animal veterinarians
• Dairy farm managers and assistants
• Shearers
• Deepwater fishing crew
• Agricultural and Horticultural mobile plant operators

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Teachers

Up to 300 qualified teachers in early childhood education or primary or secondary schooling will be able to travel to New Zealand.

To be included in this class exception, teachers must be either be a certificated early learning teacher or a qualified teacher and meet one of the following criteria:

• be employed in a Decile 1, Decile 2 or Decile 3 New Zealand State or State-integrated school/kura, or
• be employed in any “hard to staff” State or State integrated school/kura, or
• fill a position in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics role, or
• was already working in New Zealand as a teacher before the border closure and are returning to fill the same role, or
• be employed in an early childhood education low decile service (as measured by the health deprivation index 8-10) .

Teachers are able to apply to bring their partners and dependent children with them under this class exception.

The Ministry of Education will manage and prioritise the allocation and implementation of these exceptions.

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General practice veterinarians

Up to 50 general practice veterinarians earning at or above $85,000 per year with 3-5 years of experience across key roles in both urban and rural veterinary settings will be able to travel to New Zealand.

Vets must hold the necessary qualifications and experience for them to be licensed and registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

The Ministry of Primary Industries will work with New Zealand Veterinary Association to prioritise workers entering New Zealand under this class exception.

Workers are able to apply to bring their partners and dependent children with them under this class exception.

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Mixed and large animal veterinarians

Up to 30 veterinarians may be nominated for assessment by the Ministry of Primary Industries. Vets must hold the necessary qualifications and experience for them to be licensed and registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.

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Dairy farm managers and assistants

Up to 150 dairy farm managers and 50 dairy farm assistants across three groups will be able to travel to New Zealand to support for the upcoming calving season. This includes:

Assistant Dairy Farm Managers

• who earn above $92,000 per year, and
• have 2-4 years of relevant work experience, and
• will enter New Zealand before April 2022.

Dairy Herd Managers

• who earn above $79,500 per year, and
• have 2-4 years of relevant work experience, and
• will enter New Zealand before April 2022.

Dairy Farm Assistants

• who earn at or above the median wage per year, and
• will fill roles in regions with acute shortages, and
• are entering New Zealand to support the 2021/22 season, and
• will enter New Zealand before April 2022.

All three groups are able to apply to bring their partners and dependent children with them under this class exception.

The Ministry of Primary Industries will work with Dairy NZ and Federated Farmers to prioritise workers entering New Zealand under this class exception.

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Shearers

Up to 40 foreign shearers contracted by or through a New Zealand Shearers Contractor’s Association (NZSCA) employer and with more than two years’ experience will be able to travel to New Zealand to support the upcoming main shear season.

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Deepwater fishing crew

Up to 615 deepwater fishing crew can be nominated by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). To be eligible to be granted a 12-month visa as a border exception, the crew must be paid at least the minimum wage plus $4 per hour.

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Agricultural and Horticultural mobile plant operators

Up to 125 agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operators can be nominated for assessment by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) for the 2021/22 season. Workers must:

• have at least three seasons’ experience as agricultural or horticultural mobile plant operators
• relevant vehicle licensing qualifications
• work under an approved contract agreement in a fulltime role with specified rural contract operators, and
• must earn at or above the median wage per year.

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