Thousand extra RSE workers approved for govt scheme

An increase of 1000 seasonal workers announced by the Government last week brings some welcome relief to the growing horticulture industry, says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman.

Government has increased the number of workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme to 10,500 for the 2016-17 season.

"While the horticulture industry is strongly focused on getting New Zealanders into permanent work, at harvest time it is essential to have extra hands to get crops out of the fields and onto the consumers' plates quickly," Mr Chapman says.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI) chief executive Nikki Johnson says the extra workers in the (RSE) scheme are essential to support the kiwifruit industry's strong growth.

"This is great news both for the industry, which has been struggling to find enough workers to keep pace with growing volumes and the people from the Pacific who can support their communities through working in New Zealand.

The 10,500 people now secured to work across the horticulture industry over our busiest harvest period next year complement our Kiwi workforce. The kiwifruit industry remains committed to employing New Zealanders as our primary workforce and RSE workers complement this in periods of labour shortage," says Ms Johnson.

"The industry is aiming to more than double sales to $4.5 billion by 2025 and we can only do this with enough skilled people," she says.

The kiwifruit industry employs around 18,000 people across the season and generated nearly $2 billion in sales last season.

Mr Chapman says the RSE scheme celebrates 10 years next year and it is a win-win initiative that gives horticulture and viticulture a critical workforce at its busiest time, while allowing workers from mostly the Pacific Islands to gain invaluable experience and the chance of being able to send money back to their communities at home.

The horticulture and viticulture industry is New Zealand's fourth largest export industry and aims to increase exports to $10 billion by 2020.