By Anna Thomas of RNZThis year, New Zealand marks 20 years of a programme that has changed lives while supporting the local horticultural industry. What starte…
NZ Herald ·
Been around 20 years and somehow they still can't fix the housing for these workers. Seen some shocking stories about the conditions they're given. Shame on growers who treat them like machines.
My neighbour's from Vanuatu, been here 5 seasons, now he's a team leader. Good bloke, works hard, sends money home. The scheme is a lifeline for them and for our kiwifruit industry. Win-win.
come down to the bay and see the mouldy sleepouts they get. then tell me it's 'win-win'.
Yeah great 'life-changing opportunities' - meanwhile they're packing 12 to a house in Tauranga. RNZ loves a feel-good story. Maybe talk to some actual workers about their pay?
the issue is some dodgy subcontractors, not the scheme itself. Most accredited employers are fine.
you've personally inspected every house have ya? My cousin runs a packhouse and his boys are living better than half the students in dunedin.
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a lot of my course mates are from the islands, top people. glad this scheme's helping them out. just wish they got treated better, seen some dodgy stuff in hawke's bay tbh
ffs always someone moaning. these workers get paid the minimum wage same as any kiwi. they come here willingly and most would tell you it's changed their lives. let them speak for themselves.
Hort industry would collapse without them, end of. But we need to enforce better standards. Seen some real cowboys cutting corners. Govt should be auditing more not just celebrating 20 years.
facts. minister should be out here checking places not cutting ribbons.
Did a uni project on the RSE scheme. For every bad story there's a hundred good ones. Workers get housing, transport, healthcare, and earn more in a season than they would in years back home. It's not perfect but it's pretty damn good compared to alternatives.
lucky they're hard workers cos i can't get a job picking feijoas these days, all goes to them. nah jk, good on em
good one. But seriously, if we paid $30/hr maybe more locals would do it. But then fruit would cost double and everyone would complain.
they don't take jobs from kiwis, they do the work kiwis won't do for the pay. seen the ads for pickers? no applicants mate.
Bout time we expanded it. If they want to stay and work here permanently let em. Need more people in the regions anyway.
maybe if wages here were higher we wouldn't need to import labour. but nah, let's celebrate exploiting cheap labour instead. classic nz.
lol cope, they get minimum wage and it's seasonal. not exactly a goldmine. most kiwis want ft $30+ jobs.
