NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Talanoa

Voices Of The Pacific: From the small island of Tuvalu came a worker with a big heart

Vaimoana Mase
By Vaimoana Mase
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
17 Mar, 2023 02:45 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The last part of the Voices Of The Pacific series pays tribute to one of Tuvalu's first RSE workers to arrive in New Zealand, the late Keith Taulealea. Video / Pacific Cooperation Foundation

He came to New Zealand from one of the most isolated countries in the world in order to support his family in the motherland.

Keith Taulealea was among the first group of workers to arrive from the small Pacific nation of Tuvalu - population of about 11,000 - to work at vineyards and orchards under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.

He would go on to work for Blenheim-based company Hortus Ltd for 12 years before his death a few years ago.

Taulealea’s story and those who he inspired is the last part of the Voices Of The Pacific docu-series that highlights the lives of Pacific RSE workers around New Zealand. The documentary has been created by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and HortNZ.

Photographs of the late Keith Taulealea, who was one of the first people from Tuvalu to take part in the RSE scheme. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Photographs of the late Keith Taulealea, who was one of the first people from Tuvalu to take part in the RSE scheme. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hortus Ltd owner and managing director, Aaron AJ Jay, paid tribute to a person who valued his time earning for his family and also genuinely wanted his fellow workers to do well in their jobs for the betterment of their families too.

“What inspired me most was just his desire to make sure his kids had a choice in life,” Jay said.

“He was just born to lead.”

A leader’s will to serve

One of the young workers from Tuvalu, Tongaitapu Niiti, remembers Taulealea when he first arrived also.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“He prepared everything for us when we came here. He was a good man and also hardworking.”

Niiti also remembers the words of encouragement and advice his old friend used to say to young workers who were still fresh to their new life away from the islands.

“That’s the most important thing he always told us: ‘You come here for work. You’re not here for holiday’.”

Lynne Taulealea feeds a young child at her home in Tuvalu. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Lynne Taulealea feeds a young child at her home in Tuvalu. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation

Back home in Tuvalu, Lynne Taulealea sits in her humble house and looks at the framed photos around her showing a man smiling back.

She speaks about the first time she heard about registrations being opened to residents on their island home wanting to take part in the RSE scheme.

“I sent my husband to register his name. They were the first group to go on the scheme from Tuvalu. I’m so proud.”

Acknowledging the children around her and the home they live in, she says of her late husband: “To me, this is the fruit of being a diligent worker. That’s why I am so proud.”

It has been almost 16 years since the RSE scheme started in New Zealand to allow the viticulture and horticulture industries here to recruit people from around the Pacific to carry out seasonal work.

Initially, five Pacific Island nations were involved - Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Tuvalu. Now nine nations take part in the scheme and include workers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Nauru.

Tongaitapu Niiti fondly remembers his old friend, fellow Tuvalu RSE worker Keith Taulealea. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Tongaitapu Niiti fondly remembers his old friend, fellow Tuvalu RSE worker Keith Taulealea. Photo / Pacific Cooperation Foundation

It started off with a cap of 1500 workers. In the 2022-23 period, a cap of 19,000 workers was signed off.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

For his leadership and work ethic, the company that Taulealea dedicated his life to for 12 years created a trophy in his name to honour the worker who stood out each season.

Taulealea would learn of the trophy while on his deathbed.

Niiti, who visited him at the time, said: “He was crying and crying. He wished he was here. And I said: ‘It’s okay. I’ll work for you’.”

Jay acknowledged that the award was about honouring a powerful person whose example was inspirational to others.

“What that represents is the key person that stands out from the season - that’s turned up and done those fundamental things...season after season.”

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Talanoa

Talanoa

‘Devastated’ family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at US protest seek justice

17 Jun 07:00 PM
Talanoa

Thousands raised for family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at protest against Trump

16 Jun 10:56 PM
World

Samoan fashion designer shot dead at Utah protest against Trump

16 Jun 03:53 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Talanoa

‘Devastated’ family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at US protest seek justice

‘Devastated’ family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at US protest seek justice

17 Jun 07:00 PM

His eldest brother said they were struggling to comprehend their sudden loss.

Thousands raised for family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at protest against Trump

Thousands raised for family of Samoan fashion designer shot dead at protest against Trump

16 Jun 10:56 PM
Samoan fashion designer shot dead at Utah protest against Trump

Samoan fashion designer shot dead at Utah protest against Trump

16 Jun 03:53 AM
Baby’s death at Auckland daycare sparks call for tighter sleep regulations

Baby’s death at Auckland daycare sparks call for tighter sleep regulations

15 Jun 07:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP