Seasonal work co-op grows

Craig Howard
Craig Howard
Seasonal Solutions, set up to address seasonal work problems in Central Otago, has extended its operations to Marlborough.

The co-operative was established in December 2004 to co-ordinate the labour needs of orchardists and grape growers and match them with workers.

It was originally made up of representatives from Work and Income, Immigration, Inland Revenue and the Central Employment Trust and became a grower-owned initiative in 2006.

The programme dealt with New Zealand and overseas workers and helped overcome obstacles for seasonal workers, such as accommodation, transport, work permits and tax information.

Seasonal Solutions manager Craig Howard said its success had led to the co-operative extending its services into Marlborough.

"We're working with a few grape growers in Marlborough, " Mr Howard said.

"They've seen the value in what we do and the skills we have developed and our expertise with RSE [Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme] workers."

The RSE scheme, which was launched last year, was just one tool in Seasonal Solutions' armoury, he said.

Under the scheme, permitted organisations such as Seasonal Solutions can apply to recruit workers from certain Pacific Island nations to solve labour shortages.

A total of 240 Vanuatuans are employed in Otago and a further 206 are working in Marlborough.

Finding labour for seasonal work in Central Otago was complicated by the "peaks and troughs" in demand, Mr Howard said.

Stonefruit picking coincided with the pipfruit harvest for a few weeks and the apple harvest also clashed with the beginning of the grape harvest.

Extra workers were needed on orchards and vineyards from October through to May.

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