Vineyards 'home' for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) supervisor ^Featured

As the 39-year-old cuts and wraps vines eight to hours a day, up to seven days a week, there is only one thing on her mind - her mother's welfare in Tonga.

"I am here to earn money so I can send it back to my mother in Tonga," she said. "In Tonga it is a custom to look after your parents so that is what I do."

Ala earns up to $1000 a week working under the Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme as a supervisor for Marlborough viticulture contractor Provine.

She is one of the success stories of the RSE scheme which employed thousands of foreign workers each year.

Ala had 29 staff to co-ordinate in her first year as sole supervisor and only five had pruned vines before. There were New Zealanders, Vanuatuan, German, Chinese, Solomon Islanders and French under her watch. For the last five years she had worked seven months each year, initially at a Hawkes Bay apple packhouse for three months, before arriving in Marlborough for the pruning season.

She was one of 300 Recognised Seasonal Employment workers on Provine's books this year. "In my first year I cried a lot, it was very hard but I needed the money to support my family. "I say to myself this is the first and last time, but then I think of the others in the crew and decided if they can do the work I can also.

"So I came back a second year, and I love it - even the cold doesn't worry me now. "My boss cares about us and the money is good." Ala was the only person left of a group of 20 who originally arrived five years ago. "The others stayed home, they all wanted to party, and not work," she said. Provine owner Ken Prouting said Ala's leadership skills were quickly recognised.

"She showed the skills we need to prune the vines, and her leadership qualities shone out," he said. "She had good people skills and the other workers respect her." Ala was an example of the RSE scheme working, he said. Prouting said he disagreed with criticism of the scheme by unions who say the pool of foreign workers undermined paying conditions of New Zealanders trying to get decent jobs in the industry.

Prouting said RSE wages supported a wide number of people, both in Marlborough and in the workers' home country. "There is enough work for everyone because of the growth of the industry," he said. "But for some the work is too physically demanding, for others it is a lifestyle choice. "Many of the Islanders are here to support their families, but unfortunately for many Kiwis they have lost the work ethic, and depend too much on the welfare system."

A Ministry of Immigration spokeswoman said there was no evidence the RSE scheme was preventing better pay for New Zealand workers, or shutting New Zealanders out of the viticulture industry. The policy allowed the viticulture industry to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there were not enough New Zealand workers, she said.

Soure: The Marlborough Express