Rebuilding RSE workers' homes and lives caused by devastating Cyclone Harold

On Monday 6th April 2020, the tiny Pacific island country of Vanuatu was rocked by Cyclone Harold, the second category-5 storm to hit the nation in five years. The cyclone, which formed off Solomon Islands and led to the deaths of 27 people who were swept off a ferry in rough seas, went on to flatten buildings and cause severe flooding in Fiji and Tonga. But it passed through the north of Vanuatu, particularly Santo, when it was at its strongest. Santo is the home of many of our RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employees) workers who come to NZ to work on kiwifruit orchards around the Te Puke region.

The storm has left debris littering the ground, destroyed homes and collapsed buildings. Whilst the local community comes to terms with the COVID-19 lockdown they now face the threat of the virus without shelter, food, or soap and water.

The damage wrought by Cyclone Harold is sickeningly reminiscent of the impact of Cyclone Pam in 2015, which directly impacted half the national population and damaged 90% of buildings in the capital, Port Vila. Vanuatu’s economy is only just recovering. With borders still closed under a state of emergency due to Covid-19, the nation faces immense challenges in rebuilding.

Most people live on what’s planted in the garden. Some people who have paid jobs, they can still survive. But others who depend on food crops—I can’t see how they will survive. In rural areas, we depend on food crops, cash crops, we sell to earn money. And now it’s all gone.

Our RSE team from Vanuatu is a key component to the success of your kiwifruit orchards here in NZ. They commit alot of their time in being away from their families (7 months a year), in order to work in NZ. They take alot of pride and ownership for the work they do in the orchards, which we greatly value. It is in times like these that we like to show our support and gratitute for their commitment.