Summary of Evaluation Findings from Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Policy First Season (2007/08)
BACKGROUND
The summary is a synthesis of seven sub-projects undertaken by independent researchers[2]. The projects included qualitative interviews with participants from the five Pacific Kick Start states[3] and New Zealand, including employers, workers, government officials, industry and community participants; an online (primarily quantitative) survey of employers; an overview of RSE policy documents and industry papers; and administrative (quantitative) data provided by the Department of Labour.
The fieldwork was conducted between July and November 2008. In total, the experiences of 65 percent of RSE employers (accounting for a majority of the Pacific workers) were canvassed, while 159 (5 percent) of workers participated in a talanoa[4] session.
[2] Evalue Research conducted all but one of the sub-projects which was undertaken by Research New Zealand. Dr Nicolas Lewis from the University of Auckland assisted Evalue Research with three sub-projects.
[3] Facilitative arrangements were kick started in five Pacific states – Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and Tuvalu – by the Department of Labour through the development of pre-departure training and setting up of work-ready pools.
[4] A term used by Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and other Pacific peoples to describe a form of dialogue that brings people together to share views without any predetermined expectations.