{"id":204646,"date":"2021-04-20T19:28:11","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T06:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/?p=204646"},"modified":"2025-11-28T17:59:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T04:59:21","slug":"recognised-seasonal-employer-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/recognised-seasonal-employer-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme enables businesses in certain industries to <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/hire-foreign-workers\/\">recruit overseas workers<\/a> for seasonal work. Industries that use this scheme are mainly horticulture and viticulture when there are not enough New Zealand workers within these industries. Your business may need more workers in advance during periods of high demand or worker shortages, such as during peak seasons for fruit picking or fishing. In this case, becoming a Recognised Seasonal Employer can ensure you can meet your workforce needs. This article will set out:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">what businesses are eligible for the scheme;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">updates to the RSE scheme in 2024;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">what information you need to apply; and&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">some context for how the scheme works in practice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since April 2007, the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme has allowed certain employers to employ foreign citizens to come to New Zealand for a limited period to meet short-term or seasonal demand. The policy aims to allow the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit overseas workers for seasonal work. This is particularly helpful when there are not enough New Zealand workers. Workers who come to New Zealand to work for a Recognised Seasonal Employer get a special visa. This visa allows them to live and work in New Zealand for up to seven months a year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The horticulture and viticulture industry is typically reliant on overseas workers during<\/span> busy periods. This is mainly due to significant seasonal fluctuations and the difficulty of finding New Zealand workers for specific roles. When the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme was first introduced, a cap of 5,000 workers&nbsp;per year was set<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The scheme is very popular, and the cap continues to rise. In 2025, the cap is 20,750.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additionally, the Scheme is only applicable to select countries, all in the Pacific. Unless a business can show they have pre-established relationships with workers from other countries, they can only recruit workers through the scheme from the following eligible countries:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the Federated States of Micronesia;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fiji;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kiribati;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nauru;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Palau;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Papua New Guinea;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the Republic of Marshall Islands;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Samoa;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the Solomon Islands;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timor-Leste;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tonga;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tuvalu; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vanuatu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Businesses Are Eligible to Become Recognised Seasonal Employers?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Not all businesses are eligible to join the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme. You must apply through New Zealand Immigration if you would like to join. Likewise, you can discuss with Immigration whether your business will satisfy the requirements.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In your application to New Zealand Immigration, you must prove that your business has tried to recruit New Zealand workers and that you were not able to fill all of your anticipated workforce vacancies. You will also need to provide the following information:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">context around the region where there is a shortage of seasonal labour;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the number of workers needed;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the available positions and tasks to be performed over that seasonal period; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">when and for how long each position is available.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal 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Employers now have greater operational flexibility, including the ability to average the 30-hour minimum weekly work requirement across a 4-week period to better manage weather-dependent work fluctuations, and can apply temporary accommodation cost increases of either 15% or NZD $15 per week (whichever is less) for 12 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--star\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: left\">RSE workers now benefit from multi-entry visas that allow them to leave and return to New Zealand during their season for important events, and to undertake study or training activities beyond their direct work role for personal and professional development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, the grace period for worker movement between employers or regions has been extended from 14 to 21 days either side of approved move dates, providing enhanced flexibility for both joint Agreement to Recruit arrangements and employers with multiple worksites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Does the Scheme Work in Practice?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Note that although seasonal employment is temporary by definition, seasonal workers are entitled to the same minimum rights as permanent employees. You must pay seasonal employers at least the <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/minimum-wage-new-zealand\/\">minimum adult working wage<\/a> and give employers the legally mandated amount of <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/rest-and-meal-breaks\/\">rest breaks<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Workers will generally stay to fill the seasonal vacancy and then leave New Zealand. Under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme, workers can remain in New Zealand for up to 7 months during any 11-month period. The only exceptions to this restriction are workers from Tuvalu and Kiribati, who can stay for nine months. This is because of the distance between those countries and New Zealand, which affects travel costs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/04125848\/nz-ess-guide-560x792-2.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">Employee Share Schemes for New Zealand<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>Understand how an Employee Share Scheme will help your NZ startup attract and retain great talent.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.co.nz\/ess-guide-nz.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme allows certain employers to employ citizens of Pacific nations in<\/span> New Zealand for a limited period to meet short-term or seasonal demand. Most Recognised Seasonal Employers are in the horticulture and viticulture industries. However, not all businesses will qualify for the scheme. Eligible businesses must demonstrate that they attempted and failed to employ sufficient New Zealanders to meet anticipated workforce requirements. The Scheme is a good option to consider<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> if you anticipate seasonal workforce issues and are struggling to find sufficient workers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you want to know more about hiring employees under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme, our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment-lawyers-lp\">employment lawyers<\/a> can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on <a href=\"tel:+64800005570\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0800 005 570<\/a> or visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/membership\/\">membership page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1618899581134\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme enables businesses in certain industries to recruit overseas workers for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers. Industries that use this scheme are mainly horticulture and viticulture.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1618899617418\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What countries are eligible for the scheme?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Eligible countries are Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1618899640596\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How long can workers stay in New Zealand through the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">People employed under the Scheme can stay in New Zealand for up to seven months during any 11-month period. Exceptions to this are workers from Tuvalu and Kiribati, who can only stay for nine months.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"90c4126e1b\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204646\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/recognised-seasonal-employer-scheme\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme in New Zealand\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme enables businesses in certain industries to recruit overseas workers for seasonal work. Industries that use this scheme are mainly horticulture and viticulture when there are not enough New Zealand workers within these industries. Your business may need more workers in advance during periods of high demand or worker shortages, such<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/employment\/recognised-seasonal-employer-scheme\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme in New Zealand&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13387,"featured_media":119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[25,54,779,780,781],"class_list":["post-204646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment","tag-small-business","tag-medium-business","tag-seasonal-worker","tag-worker-shortage","tag-overseas-worker"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme in NZ | LegalVision New Zealand<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is your business expecting a period of high demand or worker shortages? 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