New Zealand announces major overhaul of seasonal worker scheme; changes from 2027

The New Zealand government has announced a package of reforms to its Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, aimed at simplifying recruitment, improving worker protections and giving employers greater flexibility.

According to New Zealand Immigration, the changes will be rolled out in phases from early 2027, while the current rules will remain in place until then.

The RSE scheme allows New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture employers to hire overseas seasonal workers, primarily from Pacific countries, when suitable local workers are not available.

Key changes announced

According to New Zealand Immigration, the reforms will simplify recruitment and accreditation processes for employers. New employers will initially receive one-year accreditation, while those with a strong compliance record will be eligible for longer accreditation periods of three or six years.

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The government will also streamline the Agreement to Recruit (ATR) process. Employers endorsed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will no longer need to show they advertised vacancies or listed jobs with MSD before recruiting overseas workers. Other employers will still need to demonstrate they listed vacancies with the ministry.

The reforms also introduce a more targeted compliance framework with clearer expectations for employers and proportionate action for non-compliance.

Greater flexibility and worker protections

The changes will make it easier for RSE workers to move between accredited employers in certain situations and strengthen support for workers facing exploitation.

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The government will also improve complaints and support processes, introduce clearer rules on the costs employers can recover from workers, and require a standard cost recovery agreement so workers understand any deductions before travelling to New Zealand.

Workers will also be allowed to undertake incidental tasks related to their primary role, such as operating machinery where appropriate.

Implementation from 2027

According to New Zealand Immigration, the reforms will be introduced in stages from early 2027 through to 2029. Until then, the existing RSE scheme will continue without any immediate changes for employers or workers.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford in a press-release said, "The RSE scheme has been a standout success for nearly 20 years, helping meet seasonal labour needs in our horticulture and viticulture industries while providing opportunities for work and training for Pacific workers and supporting their communities."

She added that the reforms are intended to make the nearly two-decade-old scheme easier to use while maintaining protections for workers and ensuring New Zealanders remain the first priority for available jobs.

She said the RSE scheme supports around 17,000 seasonal workers each year across 207 recognised employers and continues to play an important role in meeting labour demand in the country's horticulture and viticulture sectors.