Farm assistant

About us

Located 5-minutes north of Rototuna, we are a friendly team of three who are passionate about the dairy industry and working together as a team. We run a 380-cow farm on 120 hectares with calving during the autumn months of March and April. The farm uses Cow Manager and has a high input system with a mixer-wagon and feed pad.

The cowshed is a 36 aside herringbone with excellent cow flow. It has automatic cup removers, an in-shed feeding system and Protrack drafting gates. We run on a fortnightly roster with 10 days on/4 days off for most of the season, with 12 days on/2 days off during calving.

The accommodation provided with the role is a basic, studio-style unit with a carport and beautiful rural outlook. The interior design is open-plan and includes a heat pump, fridge, oven and internet. The unit is fully insulated with a small laundry and mudroom attached, with a lawnmower provided to maintain the small lawn. Best suited to a single person, or a couple, there is a short drive to the Rototuna Shopping Centre which includes supermarkets, cafes/restaurants, gyms, a doctor’s office, and a petrol station.

About the role:

Reporting to the farm manager, your key responsibilities will include:

• Milking cows, morning and afternoon.
• Assisting with the planning and management of feeding stock.
• Working alongside vets and other on-farm service providers when necessary.
• General farm maintenance such as fencing, weed spraying and pest control.
• Stock management including cow health, reproduction, and calf-rearing.
• Operating and maintaining equipment and farm vehicles as experience allows.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys working in a team and is a confident communicator. We are looking for someone who knows what farming entails, is passionate about the industry and is driven to show up at work every day because they love what they do.

You will be required to follow instructions from the farm manager, but will also be encouraged to use your initiative and carry out tasks on your own so confidence in both situations is important. 

The salary for this role is $70,000 (total package).

Skills we are looking for:

• A minimum of one-year’s farming experience is essential.
• The ability to operate machinery is essential.
• The ability to ride a two-wheel motorbike is essential.
• A restricted, manual driver’s license is essential.
• A commitment to showing up at work every day is essential.
• Patient with animals and the ability to detect lame/mastitis cows.
• Confident organisation and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with the ability to discuss any issues that may arise.
• The ability to work independently and in a team.
• Motivated and able to be forward-thinking.
• A good attitude and willingness to learn.

The successful applicant may be subject to random drug testing as part of their employment.

Why you should work for us:

We are a team who are proud of our work and great reputation. We value the importance of a supportive and positive work environment, so we look after our staff and enjoy having a laugh with each other.

This is a role where you will have the opportunity to develop your farming knowledge and skills as there is a lot to learn in our team. We pride ourselves on attracting awesome staff who think independently and enjoy teamwork. We are also willing to negotiate the roster for the right candidate to allow for adequate work-life balance.

If this opportunity sounds like you, please apply now as we will be assessing candidates as applications are made.

Only applicants who currently reside in New Zealand will be considered for this role.