South's jobless get kiwifruit work

Cantabrians will be among those working in the Bay of Plenty this kiwifruit harvest.
Mike Chapman, CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers, said post-harvest operators were doing what they could to help people looking for work following the devastating Canterbury earthquakes.
"In effect these people may need the same kind of support as is given to our RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employers) workers from the Pacific who require accommodation, transport and pastoral care.
"Our experience with the RSE scheme means the kiwifruit industry is well placed to provide all that, plus employment," he said.
Horticulture New Zealand's national labour co-ordinator Jerf van Beek has also been involved in finding work for people leaving Christchurch.
"The kiwifruit industry in particular has responded overwhelmingly positively to offering work, for example to 70 Bhutanese refugees who left Christchurch after February 22 because their jobs disappeared," he said.
The refugees, who have been living in New Zealand for some years and are well used to this country's working environment hoped to have found work and accommodation by last week.
Mr van Beek said there were still more people who had left Christchurch and were now based in the North Island in horticulture regions looking for jobs and he was working with the Ministry of Social Development to help them gain employment.
In addition to New Zealanders, 1549 RSE workers are expected to be employed to help with the harvest and packing of kiwifruit in the area from Coromandel to Opotiki, as part of a total work force of about 7800.
The balance will be New Zealanders and some foreign nationals employed under the working holiday scheme, he said.
"Priority is always given to employing Kiwis and there are a number looking for work as many have lost their fulltime jobs elsewhere."
Those looking for work could approach a packhouse or Winz.
"Over the course of the season the industry employs around 10,000 people but in effect there are only around 7800 jobs. The other vacancies come from people leaving."
Most of the RSE workers will again come from Vanuatu and Mr Chapman said the benefits the people of that Pacific country have achieved from employment in the kiwifruit industry are heart-warming.
"Churches have been built, villages have water and power and children are being educated.
"In return Vanuatu is providing us with a skilled and committed work force. It's a win win."
Growers or packhouse operators who might have work available for people from Christchurch should call their local regional labour co-ordinator or Horticulture New Zealand's national labour co-ordinator Jerf van Beek on 0274 790 375.