Opinion: Tonga Seasonal Workers in New Zealand - Naki Misa
12/11/07
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New Zealand and key Pacific countries such as Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, and Kiribati have entered into a formal agreement to source from these nations seasonal workers to work in the horticultural and viticultural industries here in NZ. This simply means, farmers in these respective industries will not source their overseas workers from any other country, except the above named states.
Tongans have started arriving in the top end of the South island, known for its top quality viticultural produce. Twenty arrived a few months ago, from Lapaha and Kolovai, and 40 arrived a month ago (from selected villages including Sopu, some from Hihifo etc). About 95 Tongans are expected to arrive early next year, with around 40 from Vava'u and the rest from Tongatapu. The 95 workers are in the final stages of their application, i.e. Immigration NZ in Tonga is finalising their respective permits and visas before they come. The scheme in my view is a good one, where "employers" here pay for one way ticket and the workers will pay for their ticket back home, also employers pay for accommodation costs, so workers are able to save money to take home. They’re only here for 6 – 7months and it’s imperative that they return to Tonga for 3 months before the next season.
I have a reliable source who informed me that the 95 Tongans to come early next year have been picked, and before they arrive in NZ they will undergo an induction course in Tonga about life in Aotearoa. Although leaving Tonga for NZ, Aussie and USA is not new to most people in Tonga, however the whole process is still a challenge and much social costs become consequences, contrasting the perceived economic benefits.
My concerns are around families of those left behind in Tonga, as well as the welfare of the workers while they are in NZ. The Tongan communities here in NZ are behind the scheme and are working hard to provide sound advice to the workers in the hope that they will be able to work hard, save their money and then go back to their families. There was however a case, where a Tongan worker was upheld by the police on an alleged rape case. This has brought about a cloud over the future sourcing of workers from Tonga, as the employer of this Tongan worker is now looking into sourcing his employee from Vanuatu perhaps. The implication of course is that the family in Tonga is waiting with high hopes that the father/breadwinner will return with some money to help them out, and yet the chances for these high hopes are looking murky by the minute.
Someone (a local Tongan/New Zealander) who is influential in bringing people from Tonga did mention to me that he's only bringing the "kau malanga” – lay preachers - from Tonga to ensure they won't misbehave. My view somehow differs from this, however I can see where he's coming from though.
I do fear that by screening people in Tonga based on their "behavioural" inclinations borders on human rights issues. For instance, a person who drinks alcohol doesn't necessarily mean he's lazy or won't work hard, however a person who abuses the substance has issues/problems that need addressing. We shouldn't just stop people from coming to NZ, just because he "drinks" or he doesn't go to "church". On the other hand, there are close links between alcohol abusers and people not turning up to work on Monday - often referred to as mondayitis
I firmly believe in sharing "wisdom" / "information" with people and I believe that they need to be given space and time to work their issues through. However to start the process of elimination (i.e. sorting out who’s likely to behave and what not) isn’t right in my view. I think that "support", "pastoral care", are needed when these new workers arrive here, and I think that Tongan community church leaders are in prime position to provide such support. Some of our fellow Tongan brothers and sisters have been in NZ for over 50 years, and most of them belong to Tongan churches, most of them also speak Tongan, so with all these in mind I think it only makes sense that primary support comes from them.
From a spiritual perspective, I fail to see the connection between people's spiritual convictions and the way they "loose" themselves in such a secular country as NZ. Let me explain myself, in Tonga, it’s heartening to behold how Tongans religiously keep the prayer services in Tonga. The “uike lotu” – prayer week - in the beginning of the year in Tonga followed by feasts twice a day – one for the early morning prayer service, and one for the evening prayer service. Attending these services makes one emotionally charged up, or “mafana”. The churches are packed with their parishioners, and yet somehow, give the religious Tongans a week or two here in NZ, the same church goers are spotlighted with a totally different image.
My question to add to the above, where's the "gap" here. Please don't take me wrong, as I said above, no one is in the business of changing anyone, but one cannot help but to evaluate how the 'good book' teaches values and character development that we fail to see in our own people, who cannot withstand the strong current brought about by changed environment.
Let me add my personal observation here: I believe that what’s lacking here is the true essence of the Christian faith. Christianity is all about God, and his redemptive plan for mankind. Christianity is not all about praying, nor religious rituals, nor cultural obligations. It’s about God, funnily enough. Some of my friends talk passionately about entering a dynamic relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ in the power of His Holy Spirit. This may sound a little heavy and spiritual, but it simply means, man cannot live out the Christian faith on his own, except through total surrender and commitment to Christ expressed daily through personal encounters with the living Christ. This is commonly done through searching the scriptures and regular communication with God through prayer.
I hold dearly to the view, that it’s through the above can Tongan workers in NZ be immovable in their convictions, and irrespective of geography, social settings, environment, the pragmatism of their faith is a clean and true reflection of the values and teachings of their personal saviour recorded in the inerrant Word of the Living God. The Tongan Dad who leaves Tonga in the hope to earn a few more dollars to help pay for his children’s education will be the same Dad working hard in NZ. His steps are ordered by the Lord and the Lord does delight in his ways. After all our God is mighty, immovable, immortal, God only wise. Environments, seasons and different settings don’t change our God. It’s the same God we serve in Tonga, the same God who goes before us and prepare work for us in New Zealand, the same God who looks after our families while we’re away.
Let me end with Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
Naki Misa works as Senior Regional Advisor for New Zealand Ministry of Pacific Affairs, in Christchurch.
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