We’re pleased to share a major milestone in our ongoing immigration advocacy efforts, that marks a turning point for workforce stability in the silviculture sector.
Last month, Immigration New Zealand announced the introduction of new seasonal work visas, designed to support employers who rely on seasonal labour. These visas will replace the Special Purpose Visa (SPV) in December, offering silviculture contractors an additional tool to source capacity alongside the existing Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
FICA has remained focused on the formal recognition of the Silviculture Operator role in the National Occupation List (NOL). We’re proud to confirm that on September 4, Immigration New Zealand officially announced the inclusion of Silviculture Operator as a Level 3 occupation under the AEWV framework. This is a significant win for the sector.
If implemented as expected, this change will allow contractors to extend AEWV terms from three to five years, helping to retain up to 300 skilled workers who would otherwise face visa expiry and stand-down periods over the next 12 months.
This outcome is the result of months of collaboration between FICA, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Forestry. MPI, MBIE, Immigration NZ, and our dedicated Immigration Working Group.
Special thanks go to Jade McDrury from Rae Silviculture, whose tireless efforts helped drive this change.
FICA will continue to advocate for practical immigration settings that support contractors and ensure long-term workforce sustainability. As always, we’ll keep you updated as further details emerge.
