New Zealand has quietly abandoned plans to establish new pathways for Pacific workers in the meat and seafood processing sectors, as revealed by documents obtained by RNZ Pacific under the Official Information Act. Instead, the country has introduced two new seasonal visas, the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) and the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV), which became available in December 2025.
The new visas permit seasonal migrant workers to engage in up to seven months of employment across various industries, including forestry, dairy, and the previously mentioned meat and seafood processing sectors. However, this shift seemingly comes at the cost of a program that would have offered Pacific workers preferential treatment in these industries.
Background and Policy Shift
Advice provided to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in July indicated that the PSV would replace the Labour government’s Pacific Programmes for meat and seafood, initially announced in 2022. According to an Immigration New Zealand (INZ) information paper, Labour had previously negotiated agreements to incorporate 600 seasonal worker positions in the seafood sector and 320 in the meat sector, with a transition to a dedicated “Pacific programme” by 2024.
This program was expected to grant exclusive recruitment rights to Pacific workers, allowing sectors to hire as needed. As stated in publicly available advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE),
“Sector agreements provide a context to consider programmes which allow a sector to recruit from the Pacific (whether into seasonal or time-limited roles or more permanent career pathways).”
However, by July 2025, work on this initiative had stalled, with MFAT noting its discontinuation. The introduction of the PSV, with its significant fees and requirements, has raised concerns about accessibility for Pacific nationals.
Financial and Experience Barriers
The PSV’s proposed fee of NZ$1540, alongside an estimated NZ$920 for insurance, poses a considerable financial hurdle for Pacific workers. In comparison, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) worker visa costs approximately $350. Additionally, the PSV mandates one year of relevant sector experience, a requirement absent from the proposed Pacific Programmes.
Cabinet was advised that Pacific officials preferred no experience requirement to broaden eligibility, but MBIE maintained it to “decrease the risk of misuse … and the potential displacement of New Zealand jobseekers.”
Industry and Worker Impact
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Erica Stanford emphasized that comparing the PSV with the Pacific Programmes is challenging due to the latter’s lack of finalized details. The PSV is designed to address specific needs in New Zealand’s labor market, with the experience requirement ensuring workers are adequately skilled.
Beryl Razak, a migrant worker facilitator aiding Solomon Islands workers in seafood processing, expressed difficulties in helping workers overcome these financial and experience barriers. Razak highlighted the financial strain on both workers and employers, stating,
“What the government has done really has had to make people on the ground work harder, the company has to spend money on the visas, and (the workers) are already in debt before they even start working.”
Razak also noted that the limited duration of work visas restricts opportunities for skill development, as workers focus solely on repaying expenses.
“By the time the workers come and they pay back all the expenses, like flights, insurance, the visas, then it’s time for them to go back,”
she said.
Future Considerations and Revisions
Despite the challenges, Stanford’s office indicated that the PSV fees would be reviewed in an upcoming annual assessment. Meanwhile, Razak continues to facilitate the entry of Solomon Island workers, though many are excluded due to the experience requirement, limiting the pool of eligible candidates.
As New Zealand navigates its evolving immigration policies, the balance between meeting labor market demands and providing equitable opportunities for Pacific workers remains a contentious issue. The outcome of the upcoming fee review may offer some relief, but the broader implications for Pacific workers seeking employment opportunities in New Zealand are yet to be fully realized.
