Willie Jackson questioned by Paula Bennett over whether the unemployed should pick fruit in testy exchange in Parliament

Employment Minister Willie Jackson deflected questioning around if he thought unemployed people should step in to fill the gap in the fruit-picking industry, instead saying there are "lot's of circumstances that come to play". 

Natoinal Party deputy leader Paula Bennett asked Mr Jackson today in Parliament, how many people were unemployed in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay regions. 

"As of March 2018, there are 9,800 unemployed people in Bay of Plenty, and 5,900 people unemployed in the Gisborne-Hawke's Bay Region," Mr Jackson replied. 

"Does he stand by his statement of February 13, 'We still have 343,000 workers who want more work but can't get it', and if so, does he think unemployed New Zealanders who can pick fruit, should?"

The Ministry of Social Development said yesterday that an additional 1,200 people are needed to pick and pack an extra 20 million trays of kiwifruit in the Bay of Plenty this season .

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning the fruit industry had raised concerns about a potential labour shortage some time ago and the government had extended the numbers of seasonal workers in response.

Mr Jackson said he did stand by his statement, but "in terms of unemployed New Zealanders picking fruit, it's not so simple". 

"There are a number of complex reasons why people are not picking fruit.

"It's not just about getting a big bat and whacking people, and telling them to go out and pick fruit, there's lots of circumstances that come to play, like accommodation, like family obligations, like community obligations."

Ms Bennett asked if Mr Jackson thought it would be difficult for people to come from Pacific Islands to move to an unfamiliar region without family, "they're able to do it, yet he doesn't think New Zealanders should?"

"Obviously it's hard for some of our Pacific Island brothers and sisters, but this government is clear that we are committed to employing and increasing the workload for our people," Mr Jackson said.