If you can't find New Zealand citizens or residents to plant, maintain, harvest and pack crops in the horticulture and viticulture industries, and you are not yet ready to use the RSE policy to access overseas workers, you can use the TRSE policy to access non-New Zealand citizens and residents who are already in New Zealand (please note, you should not be recruiting overseas workers under this policy). It is also available to businesses who have obtained RSE status already, but who are not yet ready to utilise RSE policy.
The TRSE policy is temporary and will only be effective until November 2009.
The TRSE process
There are two stages in the TRSE process.
Note there are different policy requirements on and after 26 November 2008.
TRSE Approval in Principle
First, you (a horticulture or viticulture employer) must lodge an application for a TRSE Approval in Principle to recruit non-New Zealand citizen or resident workers . The application must be on the Application for Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer Approval in Principle (INZ 1152) PDF [135KB] and you must pay the application fee.
Employers seeking a TRSE Approval in Principle must:
- sign a statement of intent to become a Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) or access RSE workers, or if they are already an RSE to utilise the RSE policy
- have taken steps to obtain New Zealand workers through Work and Income before approaching us
- provide a sample employment agreement that will be offered to TRSE workers which meets the requirements of TRSE policy, and
- ensure that TRSE workers will have access to suitable accommodation.
In addition to the requirements above, employers who do not have RSE status and who are seeking a TRSE Approval in Principle after 26 November 2008 must also provide evidence to satisfy INZ that they have been working towards utilising RSE policy.
TRSE Approval in Principle applications should be sent to the Recognised Seasonal Employer Unit in Wellington at:
Recognised Seasonal Employer Unit
Immigration New Zealand – Wellington branch
PO Box 27-149
Wellington
Should your TRSE Approval in Principle application be granted, you will receive an approval letter stating the number of positions you may recruit TRSE workers to fill. It will also state a set time period in which you may employ TRSE workers. You must not employ more than the number of TRSE workers approved at any time.
For example: If you have been approved to recruit TRSE workers for 20 positions over a period of one month, you must not employ more than 20 TRSE workers at any one time during that month. If some workers leave during the month, you may replace them as long as you never have more than 20 at one time.
Employing a TRSE worker
When you have a TRSE Approval in Principle you can make a job offer to any person who holds a current TRSE work permit.
Work permits granted under this policy will be granted for a maximum of four months and allow permit holders to work for any employer who has a current TRSE Approval in Principle.
Each person may only ever obtain a work permit under the TRSE policy once. In addition, a person cannot be approved a TRSE work permit if they have spent more than seven months in the twelve months preceding their TRSE work permit application on work permits granted for the purpose of seasonal work in the horticulture or viticulture industry.
There is a limited number of places available for workers under TRSE policy which reflects the number of approved TRSE Approval in Principle places. This limit is updated fortnightly by Immigration New Zealand. A TRSE work permit application cannot be approved if there are no remaining places at the time the application is made. See if there are places available.
For more information about this process, please see the TRSE page for workers in the Apply and Settle section.