Tuesday, 10 May 2022 09:25

In praise of RSEs

Written by  Peter Burke
Orchardist Paul Paynter says Kiwi orchard workers have different motivations to the RSE workers on his orchard. Orchardist Paul Paynter says Kiwi orchard workers have different motivations to the RSE workers on his orchard.

For orchardists like Paul Paynter, getting sufficient people to pick their apple crop is a challenge.

He would normally employ about 700 workers, but this year it's down to 550. Paynter says they try to get Kiwis to work for them and some are good, while others are not so good.

The age range for pickers on Paynter's orchard is between 16 and 70.

He says the Kiwi workers have a different motivation to the RSE workers who are out to earn as much money as they can. They will often work up to 54 hours a week, while on average the Kiwis will do 42. The latter have a tendency to be absent at the weekends and get sicker than the RSE workers.

"The reality is that the New Zealanders don't have the physical capacity and skill sets of young Polynesian men who are athletes in their own right," Paynter explains.

"They are incredibly strong and are unbelieveable physical specimens. There are a couple of Kiwi blokes who can keep pace with them and even out pick them, but that is a minority."

Paynter says RSE workers are very skilled at picking apples with some having done it for 10 years. He says they are absolutely masters of their craft and their hands move faster and their coordination is better.

"They know exactly where they place their ladders and they have got harvesting a tree down a fine art and should not ever be classed as unskilled workers."

More like this

Call for RSE action!

New Zealand Apples and Pears wants the new government to urgently deal with the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme.

Too 'Little', too late - HortNZ

Horticulture NZ is scathing about the last gasp announcement by Labour to lift the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) by just 500 workers.

Getting it right crucial!

A leading Hawke’s Bay orchardist says getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the whole economy of the region.

Recovery staggers on

A leading Hawke's Bay orchardist says the recovery in the region is taking place in a ponderous way.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Bumper cherry exports in 2024

New Zealand cherry producer Southern Fruits International expects to send up to 340 tonnes of luxury cherries to the global…

Machinery & Products

Pollution into fertiliser

While the new government is sure to “tinker” with the previous administration’s emissions policy, a recent visit to New Zealand…

Smart money backs smart machine

Marlborough-based start-up SmartMachine claims its new machine is one of the most significant operational step changes for viticulture since the…

Robo packer hits a billion

New Zealand inventor and manufacturer Robotics Plus Limited’s fruit packing robot has hit a major milestone of one billion pieces…

Crop care business expands

Five years ago, agricultural machinery specialist Lemken acquired the Dutch company Steketee B.V and expanded its crop care product portfolio…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter