Sign of the times??we wonder why we import labour.

Wages can be way lower than minimum wage as most contract and paid per bin which if you run and go flat out you may get close to minimum. Accomodation which is more often barbaric charged at high rates. 6-7 days a week long day’s from early starts getting scratched up in cold pouring rain And wind for hour after hour day after day being barked at and belittled. Having pays ripped off, being given the worst jobs if you complain about anything with no job security being let go if you take a sick day dealing with chemicals that are banned in other countries etc. 

It doesn’t paint the rose coloured glasses of swaying through sun filtered meadows singing uplifting songs smiling at bees as they play in flowers around you. The industry struggles to get workers from 3rd world countries cause the actual horror stories have filtered back.

I worked orchards during holidays and school breaks growing up and didn’t earn much but as my folks learned instilled hard work ethic and sacrifice. But as an adult I wouldn’t expect anyone else unless paid more and having a capable and strong gov group who mediated and ensured you weren’t ripped off, housed in heathy accomodation, treated better than slaves and safely.

It’s not a industry for the vulnerable ie can’t speak English, not familiar with modern world and people who don’t speak the truth.

The industry has been a weeping sore for decades on fair go , legal cases etcetc

Yup.

It appears they brought n more than just experience. 

As for the companies paying for their quarantine/flights et al.

That is a bit disingenuous to put it politely.

They may have to pay it up front, however using various legal yet morally bankrupt loop holes, at the end of the accounting day it will cost them nothing.

cost of quarantine x 400  - 1,600,000

thats approx 4.8 million just to get them on the boats and as V8 said that will be deducted from any tax they have to pay. . .  Plus alot of their wages go back off shore. Plus now the tax payer is stumping up for the resulting outbreak

I am staggered they wouldn't spend that on finding and training 400+ local fellas.  18+ hour days in my industry for short periods of time and weeks away from family is common. There are a lot of kiwis not on crack, and not afraid of hard work. They should be finding them.