Apple growers in New Zealand's Hawke's Bay region say a looming worker shortage is keeping them up at night despite more workers from the Pacific being brought in to help.
An extra 1750 workers will arrive in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer, or RSE scheme, this season and it's hoped between 500 to 600 will land in Hawke's Bay.
While the increase is being welcomed, growers say it fails to keep pace with the region's record-low unemployment and an industry that's planting a million new trees a year.
And they're warning it's costly to keep up their part of the bargain without any guarantee they'll be getting the workers they need.
Here's our Hawke's Bay reporter, Anusha Bradley.
Listen
Photo: RNZ/Johnny Blades