Airports Vanuatu welcomes the first quarantine-free departure to New Zealand for seasonal workers

Airports Vanuatu congratulates everyone involved in today’s successful departure of seasonal workers for Christchurch in New Zealand, including the New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu and the Government and its various Ministries.

Departure to New Zealand is a landmark event, being the first quarantine-free flight from Vanuatu
After months of planning, the first quarantine-free flight departed Port Vila Airport today for New Zealand, carrying seasonal workers to Christchurch. The flight is vital to the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand, filling a critical labour shortage during the current harvest season.

Jason Rakau, CEO of AVL commented, “The flight is a landmark event, in our journey of opening up our borders again. Each step is small as we build our protocols and learn and adapt our processes. I am heartened today to see Ni-Vanuatu head off on this quarantine-free flight. The Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme in New Zealand is such a valuable programme for all who participate. The farmers benefit from skilled agricultural labour to bring in their crops. Our workers gain skills and earn income to make remittances to their families back home, paying school fees for their children and helping them invest in their own businesses on their return. It truly is a win-win”.