The Fijian Government has confirmed that there are no indications that New Zealand’s recently introduced seasonal visa arrangements will impact Fiji’s involvement in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. This clarification follows reports from RNZ Pacific that New Zealand has shifted its approach by discontinuing separate worker pathways for the Pacific Islands in the meat and seafood sectors, replacing them with two new types of seasonal visas: the Peak Seasonal Visa and the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa.
The newly established visas, which commenced issuance in December 2025, permit migrant workers to engage in employment for up to seven months across various industries such as forestry, dairy, meat, and seafood processing. However, RNZ has reported concerns among Pacific nations regarding potential challenges, including higher costs, stricter experience requirements, and reduced accessibility for applicants.
Maritino Nemani, Permanent Secretary for Employment, addressed these concerns in a statement to FBC News, maintaining that the New Zealand Government has made no alterations to Fiji’s engagement in the RSE scheme. He emphasized that Fiji remains committed to sending non-skilled workers to New Zealand as requested by employers, and this operational process continues without changes.
Nemani also provided reassurances to Fijians currently working in New Zealand under the RSE scheme, as well as those on the waiting list through the National Employment Centre, stating there is no reason for concern. He affirmed that Fiji will persist in supplying workers under the RSE arrangement as long as there are requests from New Zealand employers, all while keeping a close watch on any further developments from their counterparts in New Zealand.
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