The 2000 RSE workers from Pacific nations allowed into New Zealand from January was "certainly not the number" the sector wanted, he said. Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi speak to limited service volunteer workers during a visit to an orchard near Alexandra. When asked what the sector wanted, Mr Faafoi said he thought it was about 3500. Usually, there were about 14,500 RSE workers in the country and the current number sat about 6000. She and Mr Faafoi had been working alongside Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor to achieve cohesion in how to address seasonal worker shortages.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 08, 2020 15:33 UTC