'I've got concerns': Hipkins on Bay of Plenty migrant kiwifuit workers

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says a Labour Government would “slow” local government reforms and strengthen protections for migrant workers in Bay of Plenty.

Hipkins has argued some communities are feeling “alienated” by decisions driven by the current Government, particularly around proposed council changes.

Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times on Friday, he said Labour would not “force” local government reforms through in a hurry without adequate consultation.

He also hit back at New Zealand First minister Shane Jones’ recent criticism of the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry.

Local government reforms ‘alienated’ communities

The Government’s local government reforms aim to reduce the number of councils nationwide by replacing the regional and district council model with larger unitary authorities.

Through the Head Start process, councils were invited to develop proposals before the Government considers changes through a centrally led “backstop” process.

When asked what Labour would do about local government reforms if elected, Hipkins said: “We’ll slow that right down.”

“We’re not going to force through local government changes in a hurry without adequate consultation with communities, which is what the current Government is proposing.”

Hipkins said New Zealand could not afford another three years of the Government’s approach to local government reform.

“Labour will make sure that communities are thoroughly involved in any decisions that affect their councils.”

In Bay of Plenty, Tauranga City Council backed Head Start, but Western Bay of Plenty District Council voted against joining Tauranga’s Head Start submission.

The reform process stalled after Western Bay’s rejection, but Rotorua Lakes Council later agreed to submit a joint Head Start proposal with Tauranga.

That decision meant an eligible Bay of Plenty proposal could still be considered by the Government, allowing officials to assess a wider regional restructuring model despite Western Bay’s opposition.

If approved, the reforms could eventually see Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council replaced by a single western Bay unitary authority.

Hipkins said where there was “strong community support” for change – as there was in some parts of the country – Labour was happy for reforms to go ahead.

“Where there’s a lot of debate still happening within communities where communities are feeling alienated by that process, we’ll slow that right down.”

Getting it right for migrant workers

Hipkins said a Labour Government would strengthen protections for migrant workers by increasing labour inspectors and cracking down on exploitation.

His comments come after NZ First minister Jones told RNZ he believed parts of the Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry were operating under “medieval slave practices” and the next Government should review the laws governing Zespri.

In response, Zespri told RNZ any allegations of poor working conditions were taken seriously and investigated, with action taken wherever possible.

Asked by the Bay of Plenty Times what Labour would do to prevent exploitation of migrants, Hipkins said he wanted more people on the ground to make sure migrant worker exploitation “isn’t happening”.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“We’ve set out a plan around increasing the labour inspectorate,” Hipkins said.

“Shane Jones is in the current Government; these issues have been raised with the current Government for the last three years and they’ve just ignored them.

“So he [Jones] has no leg to stand on.”

Hipkins said if the Government was “serious” about ending migrant worker exploitation, it could have done something about it in the last three years and “they haven’t”.

In a policy announcement last week, Labour said it would reshape immigration settings by aligning migration levels with New Zealand’s workforce, housing and infrastructure capacity while providing greater support for migrants who commit to settling in the country.

The party said it would set immigration targets through a Government Policy Statement, extend the pathway to permanent residency from two years to four, and introduce orientation and civic education programmes for new arrivals.

Labour also pledged stronger protections against migrant exploitation, including allowing Accredited Employer Work Visa holders to change employers after three months.

“I’ve got concerns about migrant worker exploitation generally,” Hipkins said.

“I don’t see this as a political issue. I see this as being an issue of getting it right and making sure that migrant workers aren’t being exploited.”

Kaitlyn Morrell is a journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.