Fiji and New Zealand have today formally launched Fiji's participation in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
Under the scheme Pacific Islanders are brought to New Zealand on limited visas to work in the horticultural and agricultural sectors.
Fiji had been excluded from the seasonal worker scheme because the country was under military rule until the elections in September last year.
Now an initial group of 30 workers has been selected with the first expected in New Zealand before the end of this month.
The Fiji minister of employment, Jioji Konrote, says they had had 5,000 applications which were whittled down to 278.
He says that group underwent testing, including medical tests to ensure they were fit, before the final 30 were chosen.
