The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand is continuing to transform the lives of many Pacific workers, offering better earning opportunities while helping them invest in long-term livelihoods back home.
One such worker is Tonga's Steven Piukala, who has spent the past four years working in New Zealand under the RSE programme. During the seven months he works in Waikato each year, Piukala earns enough to support his family and fund several small businesses in Tonga, including a barbershop, a cassava plantation and a piggery, as reported by 1News.
He carefully plans his businesses so they continue operating while he is overseas. Before leaving, he ensures his pigs are ready to breed and his crops are planted, allowing him to return home to harvest produce and sell livestock.
Explaining the financial benefits of the scheme, Piukala said, "We have jobs here (in Tonga) but not the same income that you get going on the RSE. An example the money, that income that I get on the seven months I'm going on the RSE I can get that income if I work in Tonga here for like two years," 1News has quoted.
According to official figures, 1,676 Tongans participated in New Zealand's RSE scheme during the 2025–26 period, with the total number of Tongan workers exceeding 1,700. Together with Australia's Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, it is estimated that around 20% of working Tongan men are employed through the seasonal worker programmes, 1News has reported.
While some Pacific nations have expressed concerns about losing workers to overseas employment, Tongan authorities believe the schemes have delivered significant benefits to families and local communities, as reported by 1News.
Chief Executive of Tonga's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Akanesi Polotu Paunga, said, "We cannot stop the opportunity to assist families that go abroad to work...you can't stop workers from moving on to greener pastures, so you just have to keep recruiting," 1News has quoted.
Paunga also said she would like to see greater opportunities for workers to develop new skills while employed in New Zealand.
Although more Tongans participate in Australia's PALM scheme because it offers longer-term employment across a wider range of industries, Piukala said he preferred New Zealand's shorter seasonal contracts.
Sharing his experience, he said, "I prefer New Zealand; you go on a short term, but it's worth it, and also safety in New Zealand is number one on your job site... and you get good weather in New Zealand," 1News has quoted.
The RSE scheme, which supports New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industries, will mark its 20th anniversary next year. While it has been widely regarded as beneficial for both employers and workers, concerns have also been raised about worker exploitation and employment rights, as reported by 1News.
A recent International Labour Organisation report recommended improvements, including allowing workers to change employers more easily and strengthening protections for those reporting poor working conditions.
According to 1News, responding to these concerns, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced several reforms aimed at improving worker welfare. The proposed changes include greater flexibility for workers to move between approved employers, along with stronger standards for accommodation, pastoral care and internet access.
Stanford said, "Consultation on options for change is currently underway with Pacific partners and employers, and I expect to take decisions by the end of September," 1News has quoted.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) also confirmed that reforms would strengthen protections for seasonal workers.
MBIE National Manager Pacific Loua Fesola-i-Ward said, "So what we're bringing in is an improved complaint system so that RSE workers have a very clear pathway if they want to make complaints and receive support," as quoted by 1News.
For Piukala, the RSE programme has provided much more than seasonal employment. The income has enabled him to establish sustainable businesses and create a more secure future for his wife and three children.
Reflecting on the impact of the programme, he said, "From the RSE, from the money, I can be able to do all these things and help to fulfil my plan for the future," 1News has quoted.
As New Zealand moves ahead with reforms to strengthen worker protections, the RSE scheme continues to play an important role in supporting Pacific families while meeting the labour needs of the country's horticulture sector, as reported by 1News.