Not enough New Zealanders are filling the gaps in the agriculture sector.

The Government's approved border class exceptions for key jobs including 200 mobile plant machinery operators, 50 wool handlers and 40 shearers.

It's to support autumn harvest requirements and relieve Covid workforce pressures.

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor told Mike Yardley they've tried to prioritise local jobs first.

“We have shifted as many young New Zealanders as we can into those jobs. I was at a course in Wairarapa last year, we simply can’t do it fast enough.”

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