First attache under scheme

 Kennewton Kennedy has become the first Papua New Guinean attaché to the PNG New Zealand High Commission in Wellington under the PNG Seasonal Workers Scheme.

Kennedy was farewelled by his staff and co-workers from the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations last week as a pioneer in the attachment programme.

Kennedy’s job will see him dealing with Papua New Guinean seasonal workers who are in New Zealand. He will be posted on two fronts; first posting will be at PNG New Zealand Embassy where he will be dealing with the general labour measures that the department of labour will be providing under the guidance of Brig-Gen Francis Agwi.

 He will be based at a small town Napier where he will be dealing with PNG seasonal workers who are around the outskirts of North Island of New Zealand. 

His job is to facilitate and to work at both areas. It is a three-year posting,

Labour and Industrial Relations Secretary George Vaso said commended Kennedy for setting a benchmark for the programme.

“Let me assure you that his is only the beginning, we have plans to have missions to end officers attached to Australia, Singapore and Manila,” Vaso said. 

“It is the beginning that will lead to something even bigger in the future. It is a learning process for us and we will all be judge by his (Kennedy’s) performance.”