Pacific charities to benefit from Zespri RSE fundraiser

Two organisations helping support Pacific communities have been named as the first recipients of funds raised by Zespri’s charity sports day and auction at Te Puke on 8 July.

Tractors for Tonga and Village to Village Charitable Trust are <grassroots?> charities working to improve the lives of communities in the Pacific where many of the kiwifruit industry’s Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) workers are from.

Many RSE workers have had work opportunities in New Zealand reduced in recent seasons by the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions.

“RSE workers are such an important part of the kiwifruit industry. Recently they’ve faced challenges not only from the pandemic, but also events like the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption in Tonga,” said Zespri’s Head of Global Public Affairs Michael Fox.

“It’s great to be able to get alongside organisations like Tractors for Tonga and Village to Village Charitable Trust who are on the ground providing hands-on, practical help for island communities.”

The Zespri fundraising day will see the kiwifruit industry and Parliamentary rugby teams go head-to-head, U-18 girls’ and boys’ rugby matches between Māori and Pasifika teams, an industry netball vs Parliamentary Netball Team clash, a charity auction, Pacific music and food, and fun family events.

The charity Tractors for Tonga aims to source old, low-tech Massey Ferguson and Ford tractors that can be sent from New Zealand to Tonga.

Tractors for Tonga head Julian Raine said there was an ongoing shortage of tractors in Tonga – a need which has been made more pressing by the eruption.

“Feedback from Tonga is that they urgently need to plough their crop production land that was covered in ash to enhance replanting,” Mr Raine said.

“If enough tractors can be sent the intention would be to hire them out at a reduced price for vulnerable families, including those in the most badly affected villages from the tsunami, and to women who have been widowed or whose husbands has been incapacitated.”

The tractors will be managed and maintained by a charitable trust in Nuku’alofa.  

Village to Village (V2V) Charitable Trust aims to provide simple technology solutions, training and mentoring to RSE workers and their communities.

One issue V2V is actively tackling is widely used open-fire cooking, the smoke from which can cause serious health issues over time. Open-fire cooking is also labour intensive, a burden which often falls on the women in communities, requires a lot of fuel and is polluting.

Through sponsorships, V2V provides RSE workers with biomass solar-powered cookstoves, which are clean and simple to use.

“This single piece of technology has the potential to bring about significant social, environmental and economic change for these communities,” said V2V trustee Tracy Atkin.

“On top of the environmental and health benefits, this directly addresses inequality for women and children, freeing up their time to embark on education and enterprise.”

Money raised by the sports day and charity auction will be distributed through the Kiwifruit Industry Community Support Fund, and further initiatives helping Pacific communities are expected to receive support.

Curtain raisers start at 1.30pm. Entry is free and donations can be made at the event.  For further information visit zespri.com