New Zealand has apologised to Pacific nations for failing to consult them on changes to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford confirmed Wednesday.
Stanford told the Education and Workforce Committee that the apology was delivered to Pacific diplomats after the government realised consultation had not taken place before implementing the changes.
“That was an issue that we had between us and foreign affairs,” Stanford said. “My view at the time was that that had been consulted on, and it hadn’t. We have said to the high commissioners that we have apologised for that, and it won’t happen again.”
The changes, introduced last year, included lifting a freeze on accommodation cost increases and altering wage rules so only experienced workers received at least 10% above the minimum wage.
Labour immigration spokesman Phil Twyford criticised the oversight, calling it “pretty poor form” and a “gross oversight.”
“New Zealand doesn’t get to dictate the terms to these countries, they’re sovereign nations,” Twyford said.
The RSE scheme provides seasonal jobs in New Zealand for workers from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, and other Pacific nations, allowing them to send earnings home to support their families.