There are now 8,000 Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers in Australia and New Zealand making the country one of the most successful participants of Pacific labour-mobility schemes.
A ni-Vanuatu doing seasonal work in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The labour department confirmed the figures saying they have set a new record for the region.
Countries like Solomon Islands have less than a thousand seasonal workers engaged in each of New Zealand and Australia's worker programmes.
The Vanuatu government says the schemes' positive impacts can be found across the archipelago, with workers able to provide a better quality of life and education for their families with the money earned.