24 Mar 2014

New Zealand wine grower praises investment workshops for workers

8:15 am on 24 March 2014

A wine grower in New Zealand says educating Pacific seasonal workers on how to invest their earnings back home is a great idea.

The Director of Vinepower, Jono Bushell, says he employs 250 workers from Vanuatu, Thailand and Solomon Islands, and it's important they have concrete plans on how to use the money they earn.

Pacific Islands Trade and Invest has been running workshops for workers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme throughout New Zealand, and its acting Trade Commissioner, Manuel Valdez, was with the Vanuatu High Commissioner in Blenheim last week.

Jono Bushell says he's a big fan of the project.

"They're taking home thousands of New Zealand dollars, which converts to hundreds of thousands of Vatu. I know a lot goes into education, a lot goes into community projects such as water etc, but a lot of it is frittered away. So to be able to encourage them to get involved in business and set something up is really the next step for us."

Jono Bushell.