Recognised Seasonal Employer arrangement: Good move or too little, too late?

The Government has announced a seasonal employer arrangement which will help fill a labour shortage in serveral primary industries. Photo / File

The announcement some Pacific seasonal workers will soon be able to enter New Zealand without going through isolation has been met with relief by kiwifruit growers.

But some questioned why the decision wasn't made sooner.

The Government is already allowing 150 recognised seasonal employer (RSE) workers into managed isolation every two weeks but a new scheme will allow everyone from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu to skip managed isolation entirely.

At her weekly post-Cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the move was aimed at addressing worker shortages in certain agricultural areas.

Apples and Pears chief executive Alan Pollard said the decision came after months of negotiations between industry and Government.

"We have long argued that, with the Pacific Islands largely Covid-19 free, the idea of restricting worker movement to MIQ capacity has never made sense," he said.

"Quarantine-free travel providing the much-needed labour force to support our industries through pruning, thinning and harvest has taken on greater urgency."

Trevelyan's Kiwifruit and Avocado Packhouse managing director James Trevelyan said his reaction to the announcement was simply "relief".

He said every person the packhouse employed was important and those who came from overseas helped fill the gap between the demand for labour and what could be supplied locally.

"Last year, at the peak of our season we were [probably} 20 per cent short and that showed through in our production."

Trevelyan's Kiwifruit and Avocado Packhouse managing director James Trevelyan. Photo / File

In relation to the timing of this arrangement, he said he understood the need to balance the risk of the Covid-19 pandemic with the need for more labour.

"I'm like a goldfish, I try to enjoy the moment and not overthink things. I sensed there were discussions going on and there are some very capable and smart people in those conversations.

"I had faith that the right people were making those decisions and as we can see here, sense has prevailed."

Te Puke kiwifruit grower Don Heslop said he was happy the arrangement had "finally" gone ahead.

"It's a no-brainer to make sure we have enough workers to make sure the industry can survive. Personally, we don't have quite so many on the orchard but the packhouses really rely on them so therefore I rely on them to get my fruit packed."

Pāpāmoa kiwifruit grower Rob Thode said, despite the new arrangement, the industry still didn't know if there would be enough people to grow and harvest this year's crops.

"That uncertainty also has an enormous cost."

He said the last year had been a struggle and a lack of sufficient labour at the last harvest cost him about $80,000 and a lot of crops were left on the vines.

Pāpāmoa kiwifruit grower Rob Thode. Photo / File

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) chief executive Colin Bond said there had been a deficit of workers.

"While New Zealanders remain the first priority for employment in the kiwifruit industry, the availability of New Zealanders as well as other people stranded in New Zealand are well short of seasonal worker requirements," he said.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc chief executive Colin Bond. Photo / Supplied

"RSEs are a skilled and reliable workforce which increase the productivity in the horticulture industries and are able to fill shortfalls where there are not enough New Zealanders available."

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley said the decision would alleviate pressure across the industry.

Leader of the Opposition and the National Party, Judith Collins, said seasonal workers should have been allowed to enter the country much sooner.

"Our agricultural sector has been crying out for workers for a long time now, and they've paid a heavy price for the Government's inaction."

Act's immigration spokesman Dr James McDowall played a similar tune.

"Act is pleased this Government has finally decided to act, but a Government of 'kindness' should have acted before now," he said.

"Tonga has had no cases of Covid-19. Samoa just one and Vanuatu only four. All of them were at the border. The risk has been minimal."

While there were currently about 7000 RSE workers in New Zealand, there were normally more than 10,000 at the peak.

It was too early to say how many workers would enter this country from September, Ardern said.