Stranded workers return the kindness
Tongan seasonal employees grateful to Bay community for its generosity
Agroup of Pacific Island pickers stranded in Hawke’s Bay is struggling for work, and costs are eating into the money they have tried to save for their families.
But their generous spirit has not been dimmed and yesterday they decided to give back to the community helping them through lockdown and winter.
When the Tongan recognised seasonal employer (RSE) workers were provided food parcels from Te Hei Mauri Ora at Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds, they wanted to know how they could help pay it back.
A&P Society general manager Sally Jackson said parcels were distributed from the showgrounds to those in need.
RSE workers were a big part of the over 5000 families who had benefited from the food distribution scheme across the Ngati Kahungunu boundaries of Hawke’s Bay.
It is estimated that there are 1664 RSE workers left in Hawke’s Bay.
“When they were faced with being stuck here, they reached out and asked how they can give back to the community,” Jackson said.
“We operate with a small team and often cannot attend all of our jobs, so to have 12 strapping young men come in and help is amazing.”
Maleko Sole, the RSE workers’ spokesman, said the 12 men had been in Hawke’s Bay since November due to Covid-19.
“We were all meant to go back to Tonga in the first week of May, but the border to Tonga is closed,” he said.
“We came here to help and say thank you for sharing food with us when we needed it.”
Sole said the next few months would be a struggle, given their costs would continue without much work.
“We still need to buy food and pay for where we are staying, so when we go back we won’t be taking much back with us.
“We just want to get back to see our families. Then we want to get back here for the new season,” Sole said.
Worker Takavaha Sime said it had been hard not being able to see his son.
“I am missing my wife and son a lot. I always call home to Tonga and my son tells me he just wants me to come back. I just want to get back soon to see them.”
The workers expected to be able to travel home by September.
While Hawke’s Bay’s fruit industry managed to come through the Covid19 lockdown relatively unharmed, it is expected that next season could be more of a struggle.
Yummy Apples general manager Paul Paynter said he fears RSE numbers will most likely be cut.
“Next year I’d expect fewer RSEs and almost no backpackers, so we’re going to need a whole lot of keen young Kiwis.”
Paynter said that it would be great to get a transpacific bubble open but that it may be a while with the Pacific Islands more cautious.
When they were faced with being stuck here, they reached out and asked how they can give back to the community. Hawke’s Bay A&P Society general manager Sally Jackson