Tracey Harrison – MSD Regional Seasonal Coordinator in Central Otago – has provided an overview of the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme that she administers in our southern growing region.
Introducing the scheme
New Zealanders who have relocated (outside of Central Otago or Queenstown Lake District) to work for your company for six weeks or more, may be eligible for the Ministry of Social Development's (MSD) New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme.
Click here to read about the scheme on the MSD website.
Your new employees do not need to be receiving MSD assistance to be eligible for certain components of this scheme. However, there is a process they do need to go through, and they would need confirmation of employment by the orchard/vineyard for MSD to start the travel cost to relocate for work.
What's included in the scheme?
- Travel costs to the orchard or vineyard (eg flights, fuel and/or ferry tickets), as well as on-going daily transport costs.
- Incentive payment of $1,000.00 to the employee. (Paid at two points – $500 halfway, then $500 on completion of employment contract.)
- Reimbursement of accommodation costs, such as duel rentals costs.
- For example, if an employee has a mortgage costs in their home region, but is working in Central Otago and is now incurring orchard accommodation costs; the participant may be eligible for their orchard's accommodation costs to be subsidised.
- Costs for work clothing and gear.
- Costs for essential training.
- Return travel to home region, or to next region.
How to access the scheme
To access this scheme, if you are an employer, please begin with emailing Tracey Harrison to start the process.
- MSD require a copy of the signed employment contract to be eligible.
- Reimbursement of travel costs are subject to weekly receipts or other eligible forms of confirmation.
- Accommodation supplement costs are subject to proof.
- For more details around eligibility criteria, please contact Tracey Harrison.
What about local workers?
The New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme is also available for local workers.
- The scheme may cover ongoing travel costs such as the daily travel costs between home and orchard/vineyard.
- For example, if an employee lives in Cromwell, and travels to Ettrick to work each day, the cost of fuel or bus ticket may be covered here.
- Work clothing – sunhat, good pair of boots, etc.
- Essential training costs.
- For example, forklift licence or a chainsaw ticket.
Depending on your staffs’ individual situations, they may be able to get more than one type of support.
Please note: If your employee is a student and having a short gap between study, they are not likely to qualify for the scheme.
For more information please contact Tracey Harrison – MSD Regional Seasonal Coordinator.