RSE decision hailed, but housing still a challenge

Grape growers and orchardists are thrilled that another 3000 seasonal workers can be hired from overseas but a housing provider warns finding beds for them will not be easy.

The Government has increased the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme cap to a maximum of 19,000 workers, following negotiations with employers and unions, in an announcement on Tuesday.

The change comes a month after investigations found some employers were housing workers in freezing garages and overcrowded motel rooms.

Seasonal Labour Accommodation Provider co-owner Trevor Pearce, who operates a purposebuilt 216-bed RSE complex in Blenheim, said he knew there was enormous demand for labour in Marlborough’s vineyards, but also an acute shortage of beds for RSE workers.

For much of the year he was constantly fielding enquiries about whether he could house more workers, and he normally had to say ‘no’ as the complex ran at capacity during the harvesting and pruning seasons.

‘‘From vintage through to October, there’s just not a spare bed,’’ Pearce said.

‘‘We’re aware from the enquiries we get, which is pretty constant now, of the pressure on the contractors and growers who need the extra labour to ensure they can harvest properly.’’

Blenheim had its own housing shortage in the residential market, and buying land zoned for development was a challenge for developers.

However, RSE contractors had to show they had adequate housing for each worker in order to have their visa granted, Pearce said.

‘‘In this housing market, that’s been very difficult. But over the last three years, the industry has seen a sea change towards purpose-built housing being considered the minimum standard.

‘‘I think we’ll see more developments specific to the RSE sector, and that’s a good thing. It’s all positive for Blenheim, you’ve got to be thankful you’ve got a bountiful area of production in vineyards. But there’s no point in having it if you don’t have the labour.’’

Pearce said councils had a role to play in making it easier to build RSE housing.

The Marlborough District Council was ‘‘not particularly helpful’’ with the two-year consent process for the Blenheim complex, and the development contribution levies he paid to the council for it were five times what he paid to the Hastings District Council, where they built a complex twice the size, Pearce said.

‘‘It’s a big disincentive for anyone, to look at trying to purposedevelop, because it’s financially such a difficult thing to do.’’

Pearce said he was planning a small extension to the Budge St complex on a vacant neighbouring section, but not for RSE workers, rather backpacker-style units for the working holidaymakers that made up a chunk of the viticulture workforce for the autumn vintage pre-covid.

‘‘We think they will come back as the borders open.’’

The RSE scheme faced scrutiny over poor living conditions for some workers who came to New Zealand. The Labour Inspectorate had investigated at least 16 workplaces over concerns about worker treatment.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was in Blenheim yesterday to officially open the New Zealand Wine Centre–te Pokapu¯ Wa¯ina o Aotearoa.

Ardern told Stuff before arriving at the centre that the Government had, as it had grown the RSE scheme, taken a number of steps to ensure the workers were cared for properly.

Those steps included expectations around minimum wage, living conditions and sick leave. ‘‘We need to ensure that we have the workforce for our primary industry to ensure that they are