A pilot scheme assuring much-needed workers for a mussel farm in Ōpōtiki is on the line amid tightening visa rules.
Whakatohea Mussels, which produces hundreds of millions of dollars in exports, employs close to 190 workers — including 55 Solomon Islanders working here in partnership with the Pacific Island Community Trust in Bay of Plenty.
Chief executive Peter Vitasovich told 1News the partnership has "stabilised my business".
"I think our model and our employment programme is new for our country, and it is a really good model so for us to lose our team would be a huge loss."
While most Pacific regional workers arrive on seasonal visas for a short time and only in the horticulture and agriculture sectors, the Solomon Islanders employed at Whakatohea Mussels were brought over by the trust on accredited employer work visas.
In the pilot partnership, the trust looks after the workers' health and well-being through a cultural lens, while the company provides a positive employment experience during their three-year stay.
However, the visa settings have been tightened, with workers now needing three years of experience.
With no mussel farms in the Solomon Islands, it means after the current workers' visas expire, they cannot be replaced.
The Pacific Island Community Trust's Bevan Rakoia said an exemption for the aquaculture sector "is very important" as it "allows us to be able to support more workers coming into this country".
Plans for the pilot to be extended to a South Island aquaculture company are now on hold.
"We have another group that are ready, work ready, to come and to be part of the programme but since the setting has come in and required three years minimum of experience, it's stopping them to come," the trust's Beryl Razak said.
The money is desperately needed to help the workers' families build houses and start businesses back home.
"I have to save money to build houses for my family and also to help my son for his school fee," worker Beverlyn Hickie said.
Another worker, Jayvin Kaefia, bought a boat so his family can catch fish to sell and pay university fees for three kids.
"Real proud of this opportunity. It has made a lot of changes in my family," he said.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford told 1News changes to the visa are currently being looked at to better reflect different sectors and regions, along with the Government's commitment to support our Pacific neighbours.
Razak said while changes to the visa settings are a setback, it's "not the end".
"We would like the Government to come in and see the work that we have done."
SHARE ME