Farm Assistant

Farm Assistant | 60-Bale Rotary | Drive-In | 800 Cows | Rukahia

Looking for a role where performance is measurable and your contribution is clearly tracked?

Six17 Limited is seeking a Farm Assistant to join our team on an 800-cow dairy farm, 10km from Hamilton and 22km from Te Awamutu. This role fits someone who sets themselves goals and wants to understand why a task is done a certain way, not just how.

The operation, by the numbers:

• 240 effective hectares milking 800 gorgeous cows
• System 3, producing 475–490kgMS/cow
• Modern 60-bail rotary fitted with ACRs
• Afimilk animal management system for real-time herd data
• Predominantly peat soils — requiring disciplined stock management and close attention to detail, particularly during wetter periods

The role
You'll be responsible for a defined range of day-to-day tasks: milking, animal health monitoring, feeding, calf rearing (where required), fencing, weed control, and general farm maintenance. Tasks are clear and once trained, you'll be expected to work independently and apply sound judgement to solve problems as they arise.

What we're looking for

• Reliability and consistency — someone who follows through on tasks and can be counted on to deliver the same standard of work every time.
• Logical, practical problem-solving — able to assess a situation, identify the cause, and apply a sensible solution without needing constant oversight.
• Efficiency-minded — takes pride in doing the job right the first time, minimising rework and downtime.
• Willingness to learn systems — keen to understand our protocols (ACR settings, Afimilk data, herd health indicators) and apply that knowledge on the ground.

Previous dairy experience is preferred, but we welcome applicants with strong transferable skills, sound reasoning ability, and a genuine willingness to learn the specifics of our system.

Whether you're after a long-term role or backpacking through New Zealand, if you want a farm where the metrics are clear and the expectations are well-defined, we'd like to hear from you.

Please note: we are not accredited to employ workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Applicants must already have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

APPLY >> If you would like further information, please email [email protected]. We welcome your cover letter and CV, along with at least two references.