Minister wants hike in number of seasonal workers to New Zealand

By AILEEN KWARAGU
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko says he plans to boost the quota of Papua New Guinean seasonal employees working in New Zealand.
He said New Zealand offered about 18,000 positions under its seasonal workers’ programme but only 100 Papua New Guineans have been working there.
Tkatchenko travelled to New Zealand on Friday on an invitation by his New Zealand counterpart
Nanaia Mahuta to look into programmes and activities that both countries have together.
“We will be visiting and speaking to the contractors, the New Zealand Labour and Immigrant Department and their foreign affairs,” he added.
“Our aim is to discuss ways to boost the quota of seasonal workers in New Zealand 10 times the current number.”
Tkatchenko said their visit included a trip to the Victoria University where they would finalise 50 positions made available for Papua New Guineans to study diplomacy. “The programme would go on for the next five years with the aim to have 250 young men and women take up the course,” he said.
Tkatchenko said they were also expected to discuss regional security with New Zealand to continue defence cooperation between the two countries.
“New Zealand has always been promoting training with the Defence Forces and also in many other avenues as well,” he said.
Tkatchenko said they would meet the PNG women’s soccer team in Auckland to give them moral support.