The Role of the Seasonal Labour Co-ordinator

The Position

The position of Seasonal Labour Co-ordinator has been created in accordance with strategies from the Horticulture/Viticulture Governance group which is an Industry and Government initiative to facilitate positive change in labour issue with the fruit industries.

The role is jointly funded by the Ministry of Social Development and NZKGI.

Key Objectives

1) Increase the quantity & quality of legal willing workers.

  • Promotion of Certificate in Kiwifruit – Orchards Skills and Working With Families Package in the Bay of Plenty and surrounding areas
  • Legalise existing labour
  • Participation in harvest trail
  • Marketing that targets backpackers

2) Improve the image of the kiwifruit industry

  • Advocacy for industry
  • Promotion of service and its progress

3) Central point of contact for labour issues

  • Employment
  • Immigration
  • Accommodation – Providers and database of borders/short term rentals
  • Temporary accommodation
  • Childcare
  • Transport
  • Basic information for visitors to NZ
  • A place where visitors can go to get assistance, accurate information and friendly, helpful service.

Internationally fruit work is performed by transient workers, we want them to leave the Bay of Plenty and NZ knowing and telling friends that NZ and the Kiwifruit Industry are a great place to come, have a holiday, be looked after by industry and employers while they make a little money for their travels.


The Role of the Kiwifruit Industry Relationship Co-ordinators
Western Bay of Plenty & Eastern Bay of Plenty

The Positions

The positions of Western Bay of Plenty and Eastern Bay of Plenty Kiwifruit Industry Relationship Co-ordinators is the result of an NZKGI initiative called the Kiwifruit Industry Labour Plan. The positions have a funding commitment from the Industry with a set of performance measures that are assessed quarterly.

Key Objectives

The role will see the Co-ordinators work with three focus groups:

  • Orchard Workers
  • Employers
  • Government Departments

The key objectives with each focus group are as follows:

Orchard Workers

  • to encourage the upskilling of staff through the participation in Bay of Plenty Polytechnic courses such as the Kiwifruit Orchard Workers Certificate and the Horticultural Cadet Scheme
  • education of staff of their employment relationships and responsibilities
  • help establish career pathways in the kiwifruit industry

Employers

  • encourage compliance with regulations and NZ Law
  • follow up on formal complaints regarding compliance or employment relations
  • assist employers with recruitment, encouragement and reward of their staff
  • encourage further management and leadership training
  • work with those who employ contractors to develop improved industry performance

Government Departments

  • distribute compliance information to employers
  • to liase with Government Departments to facilitate compliance within the industry