Blog

The NZ govt announces something big for workers and businesses in New Zealand. This time, it’s about helping industries that often face a shortage of workers during their busiest months. On August 10, 2025, the government introduced two new work visas to make sure jobs get done when they are most needed, and to give experienced seasonal workers a chance to return year after year.

These changes are not just paperwork updates—they are real solutions for farmers, tourism operators, and other businesses that depend on seasonal workers. Let’s take a close look at what the NZ govt announces, why it matters, and how it will work in real life.

Why the NZ govt announces these changes now

In many industries like agriculture, tourism, forestry, and seafood processing, there are certain times of the year when work suddenly increases. For example:

• Farms need extra workers to pick fruit before it spoils.
  
• Ski resorts need skilled staff during the winter season.
  
• Seafood companies need hands during fishing peaks.
  

Local workers often prefer full-time jobs and may not be available for these short-term roles. This leaves a big gap. Businesses then struggle to meet demand, and customers are affected too.

This is why the NZ govt announces these two new visas—so experienced seasonal workers from overseas can come back when they are needed most, without long delays or complicated processes each year.

The two new work visas explained

The government has introduced two main visas:

1. Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV)

This visa is for people with special skills in seasonal industries. Examples include winemakers, ski instructors, sheep-scanning experts, and forestry specialists.

Key details:

• Validity: Up to three years.
  
• Multiple entry: You can come and go during the visa period.
  
• Experience needed: At least three seasons of work in the past six years in the same industry.
  
• Break requirement: You must spend at least three months outside New Zealand each year before returning.
  
• No English test or Labour Market Test: This makes the process faster and easier.
  
• Possible future pathways: You may apply for other visa types later if you qualify.
  

This is perfect for experienced workers who already know the job and can start working immediately without extra training.

2. Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV)

This visa is designed for entry-level or lower-skilled seasonal jobs like fruit picking, meat or seafood processing, and wool handling.

Key details:

• Validity: Up to seven months.
  
• Experience needed: At least one season of work in the past three years.
  
• Break requirement: You must stay out of New Zealand for four months before applying again.
  
• Health insurance: Required if you stay more than three months.
  
• Employer rules: Employers must first try to hire New Zealanders and work with Work and Income before hiring overseas workers.
  

This visa ensures local workers get priority but still allows businesses to hire international workers when there’s a genuine shortage.

When will applications open?

Both visas will be open for applications from 8 December 2025. They will replace the Specific Purpose Work Visa that was used temporarily in 2024.

If you plan to apply, you should start preparing your documents early. Just like checking your NZeTA Visa Status when you travel to New Zealand, it’s important to track your work visa application progress and submit everything correctly the first time.

How will these visas help?

When the NZ govt announces such policies, the goal is to benefit both employers and workers.

For businesses:

• They can rehire trusted workers from past seasons.
  
• They don’t have to spend time and money training new people every year.
  
• They can plan ahead knowing they’ll have enough staff for peak times.
  

For workers:

• They get a clear and reliable way to return to New Zealand.
  
• They can work for the same employer each year, building trust and possibly increasing pay over time.
  
• They have flexibility with the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa to travel in and out.
  

For New Zealand as a whole:

• Seasonal industries stay strong and productive.
  
• Jobs are still protected for New Zealanders first.
  
• Communities that rely on seasonal business—like rural towns—continue to thrive.

What rules should applicants remember?

Here are some important points for anyone thinking about applying:

• You cannot sponsor family members with these visas. They are for the worker only.
  
• You can change employers, but only within the same visa type.
  
• For PSV holders, health insurance is a must if you stay over three months.
  
• GWSV holders can access public healthcare during their stay.
  

If you are familiar with how to Submit NZeTA Online, you already understand the importance of accurate forms and timely applications. The same principle applies here—double-check every detail before sending your work visa application.

Why this matters on a personal level

Imagine you are a farmer in Hawke’s Bay during apple harvest season. You’ve been short of hands for the past two years, and crops have gone to waste. Now, with these visas, you can bring back your trusted seasonal team from overseas—people who know your farm, your tools, and your way of working.

Or picture yourself as a ski instructor from Canada. You’ve worked two winters in Queenstown before, and you love it there. With the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, you can now return every year without starting from scratch.

This is the kind of stability and opportunity the NZ govt announces with these changes. It’s about making life easier for both sides—those who give the jobs and those who take them.

Final thoughts

The NZ govt announces these new visas as a long-term solution, not just a quick fix. By bringing back skilled and reliable seasonal workers while still protecting jobs for locals, the system becomes fairer and more effective.

For workers, it’s a chance to build a stable seasonal career in New Zealand. For employers, it’s a way to keep operations running smoothly. And for the economy, it means vital industries can grow without the constant stress of staff shortages.

If you plan to apply, keep your documents ready, understand the eligibility rules, and follow the process carefully—just like you would when checking your NZeTA Visa Status or when you Submit NZeTA Online before traveling.

This is more than just a visa change—it’s a sign that New Zealand is planning ahead, valuing skilled workers, and ensuring that seasonal industries have the people they need when they need them most.