Horticulture is growing. Exports grew 40 per cent in the two years from 2014 to 2016. This growth is supported by an increasing workforce made up of permanent Kiwi workers and seasonal workers.

Research New Zealand recently released a report about this.

This report confirms horticultural employers are employing more New Zealand permanent and seasonal workers. The increased number of seasonal workers employed includes more Kiwis, as well as more Recognised Seasonal Employer workers, predominantly from the Pacific Islands.

The great advantage to New Zealand, as the report states, is the RSE workers have increased the ability of the horticultural employers to employ more permanent and seasonal Kiwi workers.

This has happened because of the dependability, enthusiastic approach to horticultural work, and high productivity of RSE workers. Not only has it encouraged the other workers to lift their performance, it has also result in a change to the way the employers conduct their business.

Expanding business

Of the RSE employers surveyed, 79 per cent said they had invested in new plant and equipment or planned to do so this year. And 78 per cent reported their business was expanding.

The highest number of seasonal workers are Kiwis, with a little less than one-third of those Kiwis joining the workforce through Work and Income. So, Kiwis make up about 50 per cent of the seasonal workforce with the remainder of the workers, including the RSE Pacific Island workers, being temporarily in New Zealand. Backpackers are an important seasonal workforce that essentially provide much-needed workers at critical times.

It is now 10 years since the RSE scheme was established and what it has done during that time is give the horticultural businesses a stable and skilled workforce. That in turn has enabled the growth horticulture is now experiencing. It has also resulted in RSE employers supporting RSE workers during their six months in New Zealand and adopting best employment practices.

Regular audits

RSE employers have become a showcase and role model for all other primary sector employers. It has also resulted in aspects of the RSE scheme being applied to Kiwi workers.

There are more than 100 RSE employers in New Zealand and they account for most of the major horticultural companies. To retain RSE status these employers are regularly audited to ensure they meet New Zealand Immigration and Employment Law requirements.

Using the RSE model, the industry is working to assist all horticultural employers to reach and maintain these standards. Organisations such as Master Contractors require their members to reach the RSE standards in these, and other areas. Our focus is to ensure all of our employers are meeting the required standards.

Notably, the Research New Zealand report shows horticultural employers were focused on implementing the Health and Safety law changes and improving workforce planning to better utilise and support their workers.

A stable, reliable and skilled workforce is vital ingredient for the continued growth of horticulture. The RSE scheme has greatly advanced horticulture’s ability to grow, and its overall adherence to best employment practice. The current goal is to ensure all horticultural employers meet the same standards as our RSE employers.

Research New Zealand’s recently released report is at: www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/statistics/rse-monitoring-survey-2016_report.pdf