There are up to 300 seasonal jobs available with Otago and Southland agricultural contractors for this coming season and Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) is concerned they will not be able to fill them.
RCNZ zone four councillor and vice-chairman David Kean, of Centre Bush, and councillor Brian Hughes, of Waimatua, want to ensure New Zealand people have the opportunity to fill those vacancies before overseas workers are brought in, so they are holding an induction day for those interested in working for contractors for the coming season.
Mr Kean said the open day would be at Hughes Contracting's yard, Waimatua, near Invercargill on August 5, from 1.30pm.
''Anybody interested in working for a contractor was welcome to come along,'' Mr Kean said.
There would be a range of agricultural machinery available, including tractors, balers, diggers and forage harvesters, for people - both men and women, from mature to school-leavers - to ''have a go on'' fully supervised.
They will also be taken through safety issues, relevant driver licence requirements and be given insights into rural contracting work. That included the hours that they could be expected to work, especially if the weather was favourable, as during the summer, it could be ''full on''.
He said accommodation could be an issue and many contractors often rented houses for their workers to ensure they were close to the work, rather than having to drive several hours a day to and from the job.
He and Mr Hughes, as well as zone four councillor chairman Reid Gare, of Alexandra, met Work and Income staff last week to outline their induction day proposal and let them know just how desperate the labour shortage was for the industry.
He said the staff were keen to be involved and until then had not known the full extent of what the industry required.
''It was a very positive meeting and they have a better idea of what we need.''
Mr Kean said if those attending the field day proved capable and keen, they were likely to be offered work for the summer season, up to six months in some cases.
''Our main focus is on filling those jobs for three to six months and creating further opportunities for those people after that.''
Many contractors were prepared to train the workers and it was entirely possible, once they gained experience, they could join the world circuit of agricultural work.
Experienced workers could find seasonal jobs in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, during New Zealand's off-season.
''They can gain experience, travel and have a working OE.''
He said contractors in the rest of New Zealand would be watching the open day with interest and if it was success, similar days would be held elsewhere.
Mr Kean said once the open day was over and those who wanted them were offered jobs, there would probably still be a shortage and then they would need bring in overseas workers.
He said while experienced overseas workers could work in New Zealand on a working holiday visa for the first time, there were additional hoops for employers to go through to bring the same people in for subsequent seasons.
RCNZ intended to work with Immigration New Zealand to see if the process could be made easier.
He also intended to talk to Ski New Zealand to see if snow plough and other heavy machinery operators on the snow fields might be interested in working for rural contractors.
To register for the induction day contact Mr Kean on 0274-364-362.