Recognised Seasonal Workers

Aotearoa New Zealand and Tonga agree Quarantine-Free Travel for recognised seasonal employees

High Commissioner Tiffany Babington was pleased to attend Tonga’s signing ceremony on behalf of the Government of New Zealand at the event last Friday.

New Zealand’s Cabinet has agreed that quarantine-free entry for RSE workers from Tonga would commence from 12 October.

Commencement of these travel arrangements is a very positive step for our peoples and our economies, and is a testament to the cautious and thorough work between our countries to be able to take this next step.

Innovative RSE scheme 10 years young

The RSE scheme was established in 2007 and allows the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.

Over the last ten years, the scheme has grown not only in the number of participant employers and workers, but in economic benefits that have gone beyond New Zealand to the wider Pacific.