Farewell and Thanksgiving party for Vanuatuan orchard workers

May 24th 2010
by Renee Alleyne

How can I describe the farewell afternoon tea party for the orchards workers from Vanuatu? It's hard to put into words.

Picture this: close on to a hundred people in the meeting room at the Community House, at least 60 of whom were from Vanuatu. After some speeches, thank-you's, and connections made or strengthened between the 25 or so Motuekans who had gathered to farewell the workers, there was singing and dancing that practically lifted the roof off the building.

The men were in the centre playing in a string band and singing a mixture of songs, one of which was a farewell song composed for the occasion (of which I hope to get the words to for you sometime soon). The women were dancing around the men pulling up various Motuekans to share in the dance at different times.

The energy, the smiles, the exuberance, the spirit of these people was incredible and Ambada said to me that he hoped that they had really conveyed their appreciation of our support. Well, they certainly had done that!!

I hope that the crew that are signed up for next year's work are more thoroughly briefed on the reality of how much money needs to be put aside to live on in NZ, unlike in Vanuatu, where all of the food comes from the gardens and the sea. Perhaps there is a need for a stronger advocate group for those workers who come from the Pacific Islands. Such a group could provide better information on local conditions, access to community services and informal networks. Such an advocate would best to be objective and not part of the employer group.

Thank you again for all of those who have helped and supported the cause, and especially to Leo who was courageous enough to bring the iniquities to light. If he hadn't done that, we would never have been able to respond in such a generous way.

Also thanks to David from Motueka Online for not shying away from reporting on controversial matters. Despite the angst it has caused to those associated with a particular orchard, a lot of good has come from it, and I feel proud to belong to Motueka.

[Editor's note: If anyone has any photos of this event, we'd love to place them on this page. Please email them to ]

Comment by Jana Prochazkova:
[Posted 25 May 2010]

An advocate group is a good idea, especially if it included people "who are not part of employers group," as Renee says. These advocates could ask some employers, why the Ni-Vanuatu have to pay much more for the accommodation than other foreign workers. Maybe it's because the employers have to pay the minimum wage to Pacific Islanders and half of their airfare so they want to get their money back in some way??

Comment by Renee Alleyne:
[Posted 27 May 2010]

So does any-one know how much other foreign workers have to pay for their accommodation?

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