Anxious workers return to Vanuatu

Anxious Vanuatu kiwifruit workers who haven't heard from their families since Cyclone Pam hit the islands on March 16, flew home on Saturday - a month earlier than planned.

Clive Exelby of Aongatete says the post-harvest company helped arrange travel for 17 workers who were part of the summer Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and weren't due to return to the islands until May.


Vanuatu workers cook meals in the large kitchen at the Aongatete camp the post-harvest company has provided for them.

'We were happy for them to go home early because at least seven of them hadn't heard from their families and all were anxious to get back,” says Clive.

Also on Saturday, another 19 Ni-Vanutua workers arrived for the five-month winter harvest season and Clive says it's been a very emotional time in the camp Aongatete has set up for them.

'There's been a lot of tears,” he says, 'and we've heard some really horrific stories about what it was like to go through the cyclone.

'We admire the courage of these people in leaving the islands after so much destruction to come and work in New Zealand.

'They say they have come because the choices are to wait for aid or to come here and earn money to help rebuild their homes and villages. They would rather be working.”

The workers who returned to the islands have left a gap in Aongatete's work force, but Clive says some may decide to come back, if they find their families are safe and well.

'We also have 20 Samoans coming to us from working in the apple harvest and we are hoping they may be released a little early,” adds Clive.

'But that may not happen as the apple harvest has been late this year.”

The next couple of weeks won't be too hard with reduced staff numbers, but Clive says as harvest of the SunGold kiwifruit comes into full swing, a full workforce will be needed.

Meanwhile, the Ni-Vanuatu workers who are already here have been doing what they can to raise extra money to help their island nation to rebuild.

Their popular island band went busking with instruments they made themselves in Katikati on Saturday and took part in the cultural concert in Tauranga on Sunday.

The Katikati community has also rallied with support, with the Presbyterian Church treating the men and women to dinner on Sunday night.

In response to stories on SunLIve and in The Weekend Sun, donations of groceries have arrived both at the camp and local churches.

The appeal for people to donate staple foods like cereal, rice, and canned foods went out so that the workers won't have to spend so much money on groceries, leaving more of what they earn to be sent back home.

The Baptist Church in Katikati's Wedgewood Street is happy to receive donation of food from Monday to Thursday when the church office is open.

People who wants to donate money can do so through the Red Cross.

For more information, phone the Aongetete information line on: 07 552 0916 or email: enquires@coolstore.co.nz

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1 comment

work

Posted on 23-03-2015 10:53 | By zeeland

Must be hard to find 17 kiwi's to help out.


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