Orchardists welcome extra RSE workers

The horticulture sector has welcomed news that 300 Pacific Island workers a month could enter the country from June, but they might only replace workers finally heading home.

The Government announced on Monday that from June, 500 spaces in Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities every fortnight would be set aside for ‘‘large groups’’ of skilled workers. The spaces have been freed up by quarantinefree trans-Tasman travel.

It was envisaged that 150 spaces a fortnight would be held for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers. A total of 2400 RSEs were expected to arrive by March.

This is in addition to the 7300 RSE workers currently in the country, including 2000 that were allowed in earlier this year to support the horticulture and viticulture industries during the summer harvest.

Apples and Pears chief executive Alan Pollard said the decision reflected ongoing discussions with the Government had started to pay off, despite it being too late for this season’s harvest, which was down about 15 per cent.

But the 150 workers a fortnight were likely to only replace workers who wanted to return to their families, Pollard said

‘‘There have been a lot of workers stranded in New Zealand since prelockdown and they are going to want to go home. And rightfully so.’’

Pollard spoke to one RSE worker in Central Otago recently who had become a father for the first time but had never seen his child. It was a common story, he said.

‘‘The other challenge we have is that at the moment there is no guarantee that the visas of those that are still here will be extended.’’

If they were not the industry could end up with fewer RSE workers in the country than there were now, he said.

The push for non-MIQ entry for workers from Covid-free countries in the Pacific would continue, especially as substantial numbers would be needed for tree thinning later this year.

The timing would be good for wine growers in need of winter pruners, and the apple and pear growers should get some spin off from that, Pollard said.

Nautilus Estate general manager Clive Jones said the new exception was important for the wine industry.

Peak demand for RSE workers was in winter for pruning, through to August. The new tranche of workers were likely to be experienced pruners and that was a valuable addition to the labour force, Jones said.

The wine industry had kept the Government well-informed of its needs and hoped that a Pacific Island bubble would soon open up so that workers could come through without having to go through quarantine, which imposed extra costs on growers.

Getting through the pruning season well was critical for winegrowers in order to get a good crop next year.

Nautilus had starting to prune earlier than normal to ensure the work was done on time, Jones said.

Hort NZ chief executive Mike Chapman also welcomed the new workers but said the costs of quarantine, accommodation and meals for RSEs to growers and employers was too high.

The wider industry had pushed the Government to reduce the costs but no agreement was reached, he said.

The horticulture sector had grown by 64 per cent in the last decade to be worth $6.5 billion, with $40 million of that going to Pacific Island economies through the RSE scheme, he said.

Chapman supported the need for a Pacific bubble.

‘‘‘The RSE scheme is very much a winwin, for the Pacific and for the New Zealand horticulture industry.’’

TIM O’CONNELL/STUFF RSE worker Lolohea Huni has not seen his family since March last year.