The recognised seasonal employer (RSE) scheme is a long-standing immigration category that allows for horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.
There is a limit on the number of RSE places that can be taken up in any one year.
In September 2022, the Government announced there would be 3000 additional places available for RSE workers, taking the total to 19,000 RSE workers able to come to New Zealand annually.
Employers apply to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to become a recognised seasonal employer. As part of the processing of the RSE status application, INZ has to be satisfied that the employer has good workplace practices, including a history of compliance with immigration and employment law.
Immigration NZ refugee and migrant services general manager Fiona Whiteridge said since September last year nearly 8000 people had entered New Zealand on a RSE visa.
But there are questions over whether the scheme is working for the Pacific Island countries.
In May 2022, the Samoan government signalled it would be undertaking a review of labour mobility schemes to determine its own priorities. While the review is ongoing, late last month, the Samoan government said it would temporarily suspend seasonal worker travel. However, it had since signalled it had now approved worker travel for this month and March, Ms Whiteridge said.
The Vanuatu government has begun developing a national employment policy to address a potential drain of skilled labour as the RSE scheme expands its scope. More than 5000 workers from Vanuatu take part in the scheme in New Zealand.
Summerfruit NZ chief executive Kate Hellstrom said RSE workers were still coming to orchards. On average they made up about 10% of the workforce on an orchard but did vital work and were much needed. They did work which many New Zealanders could not do such as heavy lifting in the early stages of the fruit growing.
Many RSE workers had been long-term employees on orchards, coming back year after year.
Immigration NZ continued to work with the RSE industry and affected employers, Ms Whiteridge said.
