9. Question No. 9—ImmigrationJAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 9—Immigration9. JAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East) to the Minister of Immigration: What recent announcements has he made to set out how the Government is supporting New Zealand businesses?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Immigration): Last week the Hon Damien O'Connor and I announced that the Government has approved 2000 experienced seasonal workers from the Pacific to travel to New Zealand to address labour shortages in the horticulture and wine-growing sectors during the peak season. They will begin arriving in January following the Christmas rush of Kiwis returning home and we expect these Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers will be fully onshore in time for the next year's harvest season. The Government has already announced measures to attract New Zealand job seekers as the Hon Carmel Sepuloni has outlined. The Government has listened to the concerns raised by the sector and understands the importance of their sector for the COVID economic recovery. These changes will help support their ongoing success.Jamie Strange: What were the considerations in coming to this decision?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: The Government has been clear that its priority is protecting New Zealanders from COVID-19 while supporting New Zealand's economic recovery. This is why we have such a stringent quarantine system and control the numbers of people coming across the border. The intake of RSE workers is the largest group of economic exceptions to our closed border which recognises the unique challenges that the horticulture and wine-growing sectors are facing in order to harvest what is expected to be a bumper crop. These will be experienced workers and as such they will be paid at least $22.10 per hour. This is also important for helping New Zealand's Pacific Island neighbours whose economies have been hit hard by COVID-19 as their seasonal workers provide important remittances back to their homelands.Jamie Strange: How is the Government responding to calls from business for more economic border exceptions?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Businesses have been very clear with the Government that they are facing difficulties in attracting workers. Where appropriate we are prepared to listen to these calls and have granted exceptions for the likes of veterinarians deep-water fishing crews agricultural mobile plant operators and shearers. We've also approved over 5000 individual essential worker applications where these workers have a skill set that is not readily obtainable in New Zealand. These are difficult times and we are willing to be pragmatic but the border is our critical defence in keeping COVID out of New Zealand.David Seymour: Why did the Government wait until crops such as strawberries and courgettes had rotted on the ground before letting these 2000 RSE workers in?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I disagree with the premise of the member's question. From the outset of our closure of our borders we have been telling sectors that have traditionally relied on migrant labour that they have to come up with a different plan to meet the labour shortages that they are facing. We will continue to work with sectors like the horticulture and viticulture sector to make sure that their harvest grows. It might come as a surprise to the member but the border is closed for a very good reason.