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Successful stand against the stand down sees change to temporary work visas

Immigration New Zealand has announced changes to temporary work visas – a direct result of The Regions’ stand against the stand down petition. Stand downs for workers on temporary work visas earning the NZ Median wage ($53,000 per annum) will not be required, under changes announced by Immigration New Zealand, on the back of Industry stakeholders submissions, and The Regions Stand Against the Stand Down petition. Last year, we petitioned nationwide for the proposed stand down of low skilled ...

Community 500 initiative heats up in Southland

Temperatures may be chilly in Southland, but there’s certainly warmth in the community where over 100 farmworkers have been placed in employment by The Regions.It’s hard work on a dairy farm. Just ask Milan Gole, a Nepali farm assistant who began working on a Southland dairy farm almost two months ago. But, with hard work comes enjoyment, and an appreciation for the country he’s beginning to call home.Ask Milan what the highlight of his day is and you get an honest response. “Work is wor...

A sector in limbo: caught in a political waiting game

Like much of the agricultural sector, The Regions has patiently waited for more than half of 2019 to hear from Minister of Immigration, Iain Lees-Galloway, on his reformed immigration settings. The Regions managing director, Ben De’Ath, ponders the plight of policy reform. Last year The Regions submitted a petition to Government containing 7,500 signatures from the dairy sector, strongly advocating for the proposed Stand Down policy to be revoked. If passed, this policy would see low...

Mixing and mingling at Mystery Creek for Fieldays®

A selfie with the PM, insight into non-dairy industries, a chance to mix and mingle with clients – The Regions team enjoyed yet another successful Fieldays®. The Fieldays® is a big event on our calendar here at The Regions, and one we all look forward to for different reasons. As New Zealand’s largest agricultural event, it’s an important place for us to be as a business, but it also provides an opportunity for our team to interact with many of our valued clients....

Life in The Philippines: A Cultural Insight

Ben and Patricia De’Ath, founders of The Regions, have been working with Filipino people for the last seven years. Earlier this year, Ben and Patricia enjoyed a working holiday in The Philippines and discovered more about this beautiful country and its culture.Tropical weather, the best fresh mangoes in the world, amazing seafood and white sandy beaches… what’s not to like about The Philippines. But our family trip to this Southeast Asian country earlier this year, introduced us to so...

Mandatory Accreditation – A Positive Step, But At What Cost?

We’re getting used to hearing about immigration in the news these days, but here at The Regions we don’t believe that’s a bad thing. Creating awareness around immigration issues, and having the forum to discuss proposed changes to immigration processes and procedures is important, particularly in the sector we work in. One of the more recent news items on the topic of immigration was the New Zealand Government’s announcement it is planning to bring in a compulsory accredit...

Business, Balance and Betterment: A Story of Personal and Professional Growth

Balance and betterment – these are the two ingredients Patricia De’Ath, co-founder and Director of Operations at The Regions, believes are essential for growth and development in business. She shares her insight into what being a business leader means to her from her recent attendance at the ANZ Biz Growth Series in Hamilton. Here at The Regions we are incredibly fortunate to have a loyal client base we can provide our services and expertise too. As a company, we are passionate about creatin...

Networking with dairy women

Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to exhibit and network with like-minded women in the dairy industry at the Dairy Women’s Network Conference in Christchurch. Dairy Women’s Network is a not-for-profit organisation that holds events and workshops around the country to empower its rural communities. Earlier this month Patricia De’Ath (The Regions Founder and Operations Manager), Michelle Wilson (Key Account Manager for Northland, Central and Eastern Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Centra...

Reunited at last: Antonio’s story

A kiss on the doorstep from his four-year-old daughter is the perfect way to end a working day on the farm for Palmerston North farm manager, Antonio Arcenal. Frosty early mornings in Palmerston North are a long way from Antonio Arcenal’s homeland, but the Filipino farm manager wouldn’t be anywhere else, particularly now that his wife and daughter are by his side.Four years ago, Antonio and his family made the decision for Antonio to move to New Zealand and, with help from The Regions, he di...

Field Days fever hits The Regions team

What a month March was. With Field Days events taking place from the north to the south, The Regions team was there to get in on the action. Northland Field Days - 28 February – 2 March, 2019 The Field Days season started off in Northland at the end of February and was a terrific event to get things underway. Key account manager Michelle Wilson was on hand to meet and greet our visitors, with support from Pastoral Care team member Jess Casasola. Our team noticed that the event had a stron...

Recruitment news from The Regions

Here at The Regions we enjoy working with our clients to provide recruitment solutions for their farms, so we thought it was about time for a recruitment round up. The first quarter of 2019 has set the scene for an exciting year ahead. February and March were extremely busy months for our team, reflecting the need for our recruitment and immigration services within New Zealand’s agricultural sector. There continues to be a severe labour shortage on New Zealand farms resulting in increasing pre...

Taking a stand: How to make your submission

In response to our Stand Against the Stand Down petition last year, which was presented to Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway with more than 7,400 signatures on it, an open public and stakeholder consultation process against the proposed stand down policy was announced. That consultation process comes to an end on Monday 18 March 2019 so, if you are yet to make your submission, act now. It’s a relatively quick and easy process but the long-term impacts of making your voice heard...

Opening the door on policy change

At The Regions we have opened the door on policy change and submitted our summary as part of the open public and stakeholder consultation process against the proposed stand down policy. You have until Monday 18 March to do the same!  NZ Residence being accessible, Stand down to be repealed, 36 month visas more accessible and family reunification a reality! Last year we took a stand. A stand against the Stand Down – a proposed policy change that would see low skilled work visa holders stoo...

It’s time to better recognise the skills of migrants

With the news that New Zealand has experienced a drop in highly-skilled migrant numbers, the solution is an end to misguided immigration policies and better recognition of the skills these migrants bring.Recent news headlines regarding the sharp decline of highly skilled migrants coming to New Zealand look to have made immigration a hot topic for 2019 – and rightly so.Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has already stated he is looking at ways to encourage more residents to New Zealand aft...

Stand down policy set to change after public consultation

Immigration Minister, Iain Lees-Galloway has announced he will open the stand down policy for public and stakeholder consultation, after public pressure and a petition led by The Regions.  In September 2018, The Regions team set out to cover the length and breadth of New Zealand with a one goal in mind – to take a stand against the stand down, a proposed policy that would stand down skilled migrant workers after three years on a one-year visa, coming into effect in 2020. Three w...

Press release: Dairy industry immigration experts applaud review of migrant work visa policy

Immigration Minister’s announcement on changes to migrant work visa policy welcomed by leading dairy industry immigration lawyer, Ben De’Ath7,500 signature petition presented by De’Ath to Parliament earlier this month key to Immigration Minister’s announcementDe’Ath, managing director of immigration & recruitment firm The Regions, says changes to policy essential for growth of New Zealand’s dairy farming industry A review of proposed changes to New Zealand’s migrant work visa polic...

Immigration fees and levies changes

Immigration New Zealand’s changes on immigration fees and levies took effect last Monday, 5 November 2018. See the list below for some of the visa categories with the new immigration fees....

Supporting the South: Our Community 500 initiative

At The Regions, our holistic approach to recruitment and immigration is unique. What makes us different? We believe it’s the ongoing support and pastoral care we provide to our clients, both migrant farmworkers and dairy farmers. Our team don’t just match the right farmworker with the right dairy farmer – although we do that too! We want to make sure the whole community benefits from our agricultural employment solutions, which is why we have key account managers placed in each of the regi...

Who are you hiring?

Dairy farmers – let’s work together to ensure your staff are valued for the skills they bring to the job. Using the right job title for the position you’re hiring is another way we can take a stand against the stand down.Dairy farming – it’s the backbone of New Zealand’s economy. It’s what our country is known for but, at The Regions, we don’t believe our farmers get enough support that reflects the value they contribute, not only to our country’s economy but to the rural commu...

Taking a stand for the betterment of New Zealand

We’re currently hosting a series of Immigration Seminars around the country with the purpose of taking a stand against a New Zealand Immigration policy that could have dire consequences for our country’s dairy farming sector.What exactly are we taking a stand against? It’s a proposed policy change known as the stand down, which would see low skilled work visa holders stood down after three consecutive years on a one-year work visa.But we want our stand to make waves, so that’s why we hav...

Don’t despair a declined work visa

Changes to New Zealand’s immigration policy now provides work visa holders with a 21-day grace period should their visa application be declined. The process of securing a work visa requires a lot of blood, sweat and paperwork, from all parties involved – the visa applicant, the employer and the immigration lawyer. But when the work visa is issued sheer elation is experienced by all. The hard work has paid off! But that feeling of elation can also turn to one of despair if a subsequent visa a...

The Regions at Fieldays 2018

Our services transform lives, farms and communities for the better. For people coming to New Zealand it’s an opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. For dairy farm owners, it’s an opportunity to create stability for their business. For communities, it’s an opportunity to grow local economies. A very successful Fieldays season has come to an end and we want to say: Thank you for your support! It’s been a fantastic time in the year; 4 days packed with clients c...