Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
MP for Maungakiekie
Boost for Pacific workers

Maungakiekie MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has welcomed news of the employment of more than 600 Vanuatuans under the Recognised Seasonal Employer in New Zealand orchards and vineyards.

“This is good news for the Pacific Islands, good news for New Zealand’s economy and good news for our exporters,” Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

“This has contributed significantly to improving returns for New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industries, as well as contributing cashflow and skills to Pacific nations.

"In the current economic climate the money earned by Pacific people working in New Zealand is an important lifeline for Pacific economies, and the skills that the workers take home will also help economic development in the region."

Seasonal Solutions - a Central Otago cooperative of orchardists and grape growers -employed 600 Vanuatuans on Central Otago and Marlborough orchards and vineyards during the past year.

Manager Craig Howard, who has just returned from a recruitment drive in the Pacific Island nation, said he had been told that made the cooperative Vanuatu’s second biggest employer, behind its government.

The 600 people earned a total of $9 million with Mr Howard calculating that two-thirds was spent on food, rent and tax. Of the remaining $3 million, Mr Howard estimated half would be spent on other goods here, with $1.5 million being taken back to Vanuatu.

Most of the workers want to come back for the next season, he said.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says a pilot programme launched this month by the Government would improve the skills of Pacific workers.

NZAID will invest $500,000 in skills training for up to 300 RSE workers across Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and the Bay of Plenty over the next two years.

"We are committed to the RSE scheme and expanding the benefits for Pacific communities, families and individuals," Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says.

"The training will be conducted outside of work hours and will focus on literacy, numeracy, and financial understanding.

"If successful, the Government will look at expanding the programme to cover more RSE participants."

The Vanuatuans were among more than 5500 workers from around the Pacific region who came to work in New Zealand orchards and vineyards in the past year.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says that in another move to help Pacific people the Government has also launched a website (www.sendmoneypacific.org) to reduce the cost of sending money from New Zealand to the Pacific.

ENDS

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