Recognised Seasonal Employers and migrant seasonal workers stranded in New Zealand will be able to continue working and supporting themselves with more flexible hours and roles, says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.
The time-limited visa changes are: Stranded RSE workers will be able to work part-time (a minimum of 15 hours per week) and with no limit on roles that they can do. The workers will need to have an employment agreement with an RSE employer, who will need to continue to honour commitments under the RSE scheme. Any additional time an RSE worker spends in New Zealand will not count towards the time they would ordinarily have to spend overseas before they can return for seasonal work.
Each year up to 14,400 workers, mainly from Pacific Island nations, arrive in New Zealand to fill seasonal labour shortages in the horticulture and viticulture industries.