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More Cook Islanders have arrived in New Zealand, leaving family in exchange for financial stability and a new adventure.
Jobs have dried up in Rarotonga due to lack of tourism and many within the industry are having to pivot careers after being made redundant.
Now, just under 30 new recruits have arrived in Southland to try their hand at a meatworks plant.
RNZ Pacific's Eleisha Foon and cameraman Nate McKinnon went to Southland to meet them.