Introduced in 2006 the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme provides temporary work visas for workers from the Pacific to fill vaccencies in the horticulture and viticulture industries. According to NZAid, New Zealand’s international aid and development agency, the scheme was “designed with the development of Pacific countries and New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries at its heart.” Drawing on field research done by Swedish political scientist Lina Ericsson this presentation will give an insight into the experiences of migrant workers on kiwifruit farms in the rural North Island, while critically examining the RSE scheme in the context of New Zealand’s relationship with the nations of the south Pacific on the issues of trade, development and immigration.
Speaker: Byron Clark
5:30pm, Wednesday September 2
WEA, 59 Gloucester St (map)