New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme: An Object Lesson in Policy Making – But for Whom?

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme provides for eligible Pacific Islanders to work for the agricultural season in New Zealand. Using the lens of the three ‘I’s model of political economy – Interests, Ideas and Institutions, this Briefing Paper (and the original research paper on which is based) discusses not the outcome of the RSE scheme, but its origins and replicability and especially the role of institutions in its success.