Farm, meat processing and seasonal work: when the season ends or the farm is sold

Seasonal and fixed-term work: what the law says

• A fixed-term or seasonal agreement must be in writing and state how and when it ends and the genuine reason for it. If those are missing, you can challenge the ending.
• When it ends by its terms, it is not a redundancy. There is no notice or compensation unless your agreement says so.
• You are entitled to holiday pay. For a genuine fixed-term agreement of less than 12 months, an employer can pay annual holidays as 8 percent of gross earnings with each pay or at the end of the term, but only if your agreement says so. Otherwise holiday pay is worked out on termination under the normal rules (see the final pay guide).
• If your employer rehires you each season, you can ask about permanent hours, but there is no automatic right to one. Each fixed-term extension needs a genuine reason.

Meat processing

Meat works have seasonal peaks, with lay-offs or shortened shifts at the end of each season. Some plants close or reduce lines when stock numbers, export markets or prices shift. Your union (E tū, or others) is the best source of up-to-date information. We could not verify specific plant closures in 2026, so check the latest news.

• Ask whether a stand-down is a lay-off under your agreement (and if there's pay) or a redundancy.
• Slaughter workers (butchers, boners) have specialised skills that are in demand across plants and in Australia.
• Check that your visa conditions allow a new employer if you are a migrant worker.
• Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme: Immigration NZ says RSE employers must guarantee RSE workers 30 hours of pay a week regardless of work available, pay the market rate for the job and set out rates and minimum remuneration in the agreement. RSE visas are tied to the RSE job and employer, so ask Immigration NZ before changing employer.

Farm sales, sharemilking and housing

If a farm is sold or converted (for example to forestry or lifestyle blocks), the owner may end employment and ask you to leave the house. Dairy workers and sharemilkers are particularly exposed because home and job are tied together.

1. Ask for the situation in writing: is your job ending, why, and when?
2. Check what kind of tenancy you have. A house provided because of your job is usually a service tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act. Tenancy Services says it normally ends when your employment ends, and either side must give at least 14 days' written notice, which can only be given once employment has ended or notice of ending it has been given. Check your agreement and tenancy.govt.nz.
3. Know your notice entitlements and ask for your final pay, holiday pay and any accrued days.
4. Apply to Work and Income straight away for Accommodation Supplement and, if you face emergency costs, a hardship grant. See the urgent costs guide.
5. Sharemilkers (self-employed) need to check their contract, equity partner and creditor positions. Get advice from Federated Farmers, DairyNZ or a lawyer, and see the business-failure guide.

Looking after yourself

Rural isolation, debt and uncertainty make job loss harder. Farmstrong (farmstrong.co.nz) offers practical wellbeing resources for farming people, and Rural Support Trusts can connect you with a local person to talk to. You can also call or text 1737, free, at any time.

Work and Income offers redeployment support for people facing redundancy. Its page says you can contact them before your job ends, even if no decisions have been made. Support can include a named contact who helps with your CV and cover letter, looks for jobs or training, connects you with employers and arranges financial support between jobs.

• Email RedeploymentSupport@msd.govt.nz (the address Work and Income lists for redundancy support).
• Call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 to talk about payments such as Jobseeker Support or a Transition to Work Grant.
• Book a free career conversation with the Direct Career Service on 0800 222 733.

Where to look next

• Horticulture and viticulture: harvest, packhouse and pruning work offers seasonal pay at different times of year. Check wages and accommodation costs.
• Contract milking, relief milking, shearing gangs and fencing contracting.
• Rural trades: agricultural engineering, machinery, trucking, fertiliser spreading and aerial application support.
• Rural service roles: stock agencies, fertiliser and feed companies, banks and rural contractors.