Kiwifruit workers from the Pacific islands due to fly home when New Zealand went into lockdown closing its borders, were given work and accommodation at Katikati.
The 48 seasonal workers on the RSE scheme arrived in New Zealand in October and had been working in Hawke's Bay. Since workers expected for the kiwifruit harvest had not arrived in the country, Apata Group Ltd worked with Immigration NZ which approved a Variation of Condition to their visa for the group, which meant the workers could move area and work for another employer.
Apata's HR manager Sheryl Thocolich says their pastoral carer Glenda Reid put in a good effort and came up with accommodation at the Aongatete Outdoor Education Centre (AOEC) which was approved by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for them to use.
The men, from Vanuatu, Niue and the Solomon Islands, arrived at the AOEC on May 5 and stayed for six weeks.
AOEC trustee and head of projects, Keith Pyle says they were privileged to be able to help out this group who had been caught in NZ due to the Covid-19 epidemic.