Pacific Islands workers have been described as invaluable to New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industries. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Samoa's prime minister has touted New Zealand's seasonal employers programme as an option for citizens who lost their jobs when an American Samoa cannery closed.
The Samoa Tuna Processors plant in Pago Pago partially shut down last month, leaving nearly 1,000 staff - the bulk of whom are from neighbouring Samoa - out of work.
Samoa's prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said New Zealand's government recently removed the cap on Pacific Island workers under the scheme, and farmers are calling for more workers.
Tuilaepa also said new factory and hotel developments in Samoa had vacancies.