Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Parker David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:619;Page:15319] 
6.  
DAVID PARKER (Labour—Otago) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What steps has the Government taken to address labour shortages in seasonal industries? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Last week the Minister of Labour Paul Swain the Associate Minister of Immigration Damien O’Connor and myself met with representatives of the horticulture industry and Government officials to establish a joint strategy for meeting short medium and long-term seasonal labour shortages in the sector. 
David Parker 
: How will the seasonal labour strategy be progressed? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: The industry and the Government are agreed that any strategy must be based on jobs for New Zealanders first. Overseas labour will be used only when it is clear that there are no suitable Kiwis to fill the vacancies. Illegal immigrants will not be used; that is unacceptable. It was also agreed that the industry has a responsibility for its own labour needs including the training and upskilling of New Zealanders. A joint industry-Government working party is being established to progress that strategy. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: How can the Minister claim to the House that the Government’s policy is about putting New Zealanders’ jobs first when in my electorate this very week the owners of two fishing vessels—the  
Puriri 
 and the  
Orere 
—had work permits issued for 20 Filipino workers and three constituents have contacted my electorate office after being told they will be laid off as a consequence of that? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: The issuing of work permits to visitors is a matter for the Minister of Immigration. But I say to the member that in his area the seasonal work strategy worked exceedingly well last year. In the area next to his around Motueka there were no registered unemployed people on the benefit—none. It is the same in Hastings West. There are many places where the Government’s seasonal work strategy has worked outstandingly well. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek the leave of the House to table newspaper reports— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: We usually do that at the end of the question. There is too much noise particularly from the Government benches. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that there are labour shortages in such areas as truck driving and road construction and maintenance which are areas affected by the seasonal flow of cargo; and will he solve that problem by employing overseas people? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I am well aware that there are shortages in those areas. I am very pleased to advise the member that Work and Income has been running a number of training programmes for truck drivers in both the South Island and the North Island. It has been running work programmes for people driving buses and all sorts of work programmes. The whole thrust of this Government’s strategy is to upskill New Zealanders in order to fill those jobs. We are doing that in conjunction with industry using industry-based strategies. We are well aware of the shortages and we are moving very well toward very successful outcomes. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the reports in the  
Nelson Mail 
 of the Associate Minister of Immigration issuing work permits for Filipino workers on the  
Puriri 
 and  
Orere  
fishing trawlers. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.