First Fiji RSE workers arrive in NZ

Transcript

The first Fijian seasonal workers allowed into New Zealand since the military coup in 2006 have arrived in Hawke's Bay for the apple harvest.   

They're part of a trial for Fiji's full entry into the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme which recruits up to 9,000 workers each year from the Pacific for the horticulture and wine industries.

Fiji's inclusion follows the lifting of sanctions after democratic elections there last year.

Karen Mangnall reports.

30 Fijians will take part in this year's RSE trial. The first 12 are all from Wayalailai island in the remote Yasawa group. In their first season, they can expect to take home upwards of 6,000 dollars after four or five months. Their spokesman, Waisale Tora, wants to pay for school fees for his five children.

WAISALE TORA: We also because we live in the outer islands, our means of transportation is boat, so we would like to have a boat as well, if I manage to earn more money in this scheme.

Mr Tora's group will join 280 RSE workers from other Pacific countries at Pick Hawkes Bay, a co-operative of 38 growers. The general manager, Anthony Rarere, expects the Fijians to stay the maximum seven months - first harvesting apples, then some kiwifruit, and later doing winter pruning.

ANTHONY RARERE: I've been to their island and I can see that living there and the hills they have to climb every day to get around, their gardens and the work they have to do and the heat they have to contend with. I think it all adds up to, they're going to do really well. they're very excited, they've been waiting a long time.

Those picked for the RSE trial were whittled down from 5,000 applicants. Horticulture New Zealand's manager of seasonal labour, Jerf van Beek, says there was a focus on those from rural areas with little chance for employment.

JERF VAN BEEK: But also on fitness and health and age. They were stringent, I must admit. It looked like they were selecting a Sevens team and that's how serious Fiji takes RSE.

Jerf van Beek says the Fijians all have plans for using their earnings to help their communities. They also intend to use training funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to learn new skills, particularly to attract tourists to the Fijian-owned resorts on their island.

JERF VAN BEEK: One thing they want to learn is about websites, about email and how the computer can help their resorts attract more visitors because it's an absolutely beautiful place to go to.

The Fiji Government is targeting at least 1,000 of the 9,000 available RSE places since signing up to the scheme with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in December. MBIE's deputy chief executive, Nigel Bickle, says Fiji has cause for optimism because of its more regular, cheaper flights to New Zealand, and its experienced workforce.

NIGEL BICKLE: The key thing for us though is to over the course of this year pilot with a small number of Fijian workers and just make sure that the processes that make RSE successful are actually working well before a decision around any formal  acceptance of Fijian expansion of Fiji in the RSE scheme.

Waisale Tora says his group in Hawkes Bay is well aware of the pressure to do everything right.

WAISALE TORA: A lot of them are waiting behind us and the government is looking at us, watching us for this trip so that it would open the doors for them to come as well.

Some of the remaining Fijian RSE workers are due in the Bay of Plenty next month for the kiwifruit season, and the rest in Nelson for winter pruning.