Federated Farmers haad lobbied the Government for the extension to ensure continuity of labour supply to maintain exports.
It is a big relief for his for Filipino staff, federation dairy chairman Chris Lewis said.
It also gives employers certainty with calving.
The dairy industry is also working in conjunction with the Government on a Go Dairy campaign to recruit New Zealanders who have lost their jobs as a result of covid-19.
It will be launched in the next few months to plug worker shortages.
“We’ve plugged up the short term, now for the long term,” he said.
The extension applies only to visas expiring between April 2 and July 9.
Those will visas expiring on or before April 1 must apply for a new one before the expiry date and will be given a six-month extension.
The federations advice to members doesn’t say what will happen to people whose visas expire after July 9.
