Fruit-picking subsidy flops as Kiwis stay put

A lack of pickers and pruners is hitting the horticultural sector hard (Pic: supplied).

Tue, 27 Apr 2021

The government’s Seasonal Work Scheme subsidising jobseekers has lured just 195 new fruit pickers to move to where work is.Pre-pandemic, temporary migrant workers from the Pacific Islands were the backbone of the horticultural seasonal workforce but with border closures preventing their entry, the government tried to attract New Zealanders to where the work was. Announced in November, the SWS aimed to fill the shortage by giving financial aid and support to people relocating for horticultural work. This was alongside other measures,...

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