Relief milker nz.

Relief Milker NZ

Experienced relief milker, farm sitter, and house sitter.

Farm Sitter & Sole Charge Relief Milker ~ Available Throughout The North Island

I’m currently available for house and farm sitting in either the Waikato, Taranaki, or Manawatu for the following dates:

  • March 30th to April 12th

  • April 24th to May 14th

  • June 23rd to July 5th

    • Bookmark this page to learn of new locations and dates as they come to hand…

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    My name’s Craig and I’ve been relief milking full-time since 2014. Prior to that I was dairying full-time for 20+ years, 12 of those years in sole charge management, two as low order sharemilker. In addition to that, I was born and bred on a dairy farm, so I’ve been around livestock much of my life. Subsequently, I know my way around a shed and how to work with the stock. I’m independent, quiet, competent, resourceful, reliable, with a good ounce of common sense and initiative, and always on time for milking. If anything I like to arrive a good 15-20 minutes early to take into account any potential hold-ups on the roads. I enjoy what I do and I do it well.

    I house sit around the country full-time, and relief milk in the districts where I’m staying. I have an active profile at Kiwi House Sitters and I’ve started a new blog at House Sitter NZ.

    Theoretically, I’m available for relief milking jobs throughout the North Island, however in reality I tend to mainly operate in the Waikato and Taranaki regions for much of the year. In saying that, I’ll seriously consider every offer that comes my way, where ever it may take me. A lot may depend on where I’m house sitting at the time.

    Of course, if I’m farm sitting and relief milking on a property which also includes house sitting (and looking after the family home and pets etc) then that will make things a lot simpler.

    In a nutshell…

  • I’m an ex-farmer with 20+ years experience of full-time, hands-on dairy cow farming.
  • I’ve been a self-employed relief milker for the last 10 years.
  • I can travel up to approximately 15Kms from where I’m staying.
  • I don’t get sick so timely and daily attendance is guaranteed. I haven’t had a cold since 2012.
  • I’m GST registered.
  • An invoice will be emailed upon the completion of each job, payable by the following 20th.
  • Herringbone sheds preferred.
  • Sole charge milkings preferred (up to approx. 250 cows).
  • Sole charge rate is a flat rate and is ‘per standard milking’ (washing the vat, bringing the cows in, milking them, cleaning up, shutting the herd away, checking their troughs etc.). Rates start at $135 + GST and are based on herd size, shed size, and shed set-up. For example, is there drenching, ACRs, and/or auto teat spray? Is there in-shed feeding or will there be PK trailers or feed pads etc? Please contact me for a quote.
  • I’m also available to do daily chores outside of milking (e.g. feeding out, shifting effluent irrigators etc) for a competitive hourly rate.
  • Mileage: $1.10 per km after 10kms.



    • My services include (but are not necessarily limited to) the following:

  • Relief Milking
  • Farm Sitting / House Sitting (there is no charge for house sitting)
  • Looking After Runoff Blocks
  • Tending To Young Stock
  • Feeding Out
  • Weed Control
  • General Farm Duties



    • If you would like to discuss booking me in then please feel free to Contact Me. Cheers.