Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Regional Labour Market Advisor in Central Otago, Tracey Harrison has provided an overview of the New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme.
Introducing the scheme
New Zealanders who have relocated from outside the region to work for your company for six weeks or more, may be eligible for MSD’s New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme.
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, they do need to be eligible for assistance, so 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 ongoing 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 dual rentals costs
- For example, if an employee has a mortgage cost 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 by emailing: SouthernNZSWS@msd.govt.nz to start the process. MSD requires a copy of the signed employment contract to be eligible.
- Reimbursement of travel costs is 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 the seasonal team: SouthernNZSWS@msd.govt.nz
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 the seasonal team: SouthernNZSWS@msd.govt.nz
