Increase in RSE scheme hailed

anticipate there will remain opportunities for those seasonal workers coming from the Pacific too,’’ Lees-galloway told The Marlborough Express.

‘‘It is wages, it is reducing barriers such as providing transport and accommodation for Kiwi workers. It is things like the hours – there are some people who would be prepared to work in the sector on a more part-time basis.’’ the increased cap was positive for the Marlborough wine industry.

There was no certainty that it would always go up, so businesses had done everything they could to meet Government requests, Pickens said.

‘‘I think the industry has delivered on the challenges that the minister has laid down for the users of RSE, they have really stepped up and implemented some of the requests the Government had.’’

While the cap on the number of visas had steadily increased since the scheme was introduced in 2007, Pickens said businesses were also taking a risk by building accommodation.

However, Pickens said that even with the scheme – there were still shortages in labour.

Lees-galloway said that at present, the RSE scheme was about 20 per cent of the horticulture and viticulture workforce.

He had visited some accommodation in Blenheim built for RSE workers which was, ‘‘exactly what they [the Government] are looking for’’.

‘‘It looks fantastic, I would like to see more of that,’’ he said.

RSE employer Vinepower chief executive officer Gus Struthers said the company’s biggest investment had been in accommodation.

Vinepower had partnered with St Andrews property group, which provides purpose built accommodation to RSE workers.

Struthers said the accommodation was also the biggest surety in knowing they will get the seasonal workers.

‘‘It might be a risk in building the accommodation but you have to back the scheme,’’ Struthers said.

He also said the cap announcement was larger than he thought it would be.

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive officer Philip Gregan said it also welcomed the cap increase.

He said the wine industry’s primary focus was giving Kiwis work first – but there were often shortages.

‘‘Increased access to labour through the RSE scheme has supported the wine industry and contributed to export growth,’’ Gregan said.

New Zealand wine exports were valued at $1.83 billion for the year to the end of June 2019.