Immigration Minister Erica Stanford wanted to remove the yearly limit on how many Pacific workers can come to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. But Cabinet did not approve the change, according to government papers released on 5 August 2026 (RNZ Pacific).

The RSE scheme lets workers from Pacific countries come to Aotearoa New Zealand to do seasonal work, mainly picking and packing fruit and vegetables. Stanford argued at a Cabinet committee meeting last month that removing the limit would cut paperwork for employers and let workers send more money home to their families. But the idea did not make it into the committee's decision minutes, meaning it was set aside before reaching the full Cabinet. Stanford's office told RNZ Pacific the proposal was considered but ultimately put aside ahead of the RSE announcement.

Stanford's proposal did acknowledge possible downsides. Her office said removing the limit would lead to a manageable increase in worker numbers, but noted it could mean fewer jobs for New Zealand workers. The proposal read: "On balance, I consider this risk low and able to be mitigated." It said officials would keep an eye on worker numbers and could bring the limit back if needed (RNZ Pacific).

The limit has not actually been reached in recent years. According to a review by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), published on 4 August, the cap has not been hit for the last three seasons. The cap has grown from 5,000 in 2007 to 20,750 today (MBIE). The current level of 20,750 was set when the cap was raised from 19,500 for the 2024/25 season as part of the National-ACT coalition agreement.

The Government's RSE changes, announced on 28 July 2026, did not include removing the cap. Instead, the package covers how workers are recruited, how employers can recover costs, rules for checking employers follow the rules, and how workers are housed and cared for (Beehive; Immigration NZ). The cap was increased by 1,550 places for the current year. Weekly accommodation rent caps were set between NZ$150 and NZ$211 per person, and employers can only charge what accommodation actually costs (RNZ Pacific).

Stanford said the changes recognise the important role the scheme plays while responding to clear feedback (Beehive). She had earlier signalled a work programme set to launch in 2026 (PMN).

At the 2023 election, the ACT party campaigned on scrapping RSE limits entirely, while National campaigned on a smaller increase. ACT agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard welcomed the RSE changes, saying growers need workers in the orchard because "fruit doesn't wait around for forms to be processed" (RNZ Pacific).

The wider environment around the scheme has been unsettled. A labour expert warned in February 2026 that Pacific nations are too dependent on seasonal worker schemes (RNZ Pacific). Samoa's government has capped how many of its citizens can join these programmes and had previously imposed a temporary ban. It defended sending back 10 workers for reasons including theft, adultery and smoking marijuana (RNZ Pacific).

In New Zealand, the Council of Trade Unions has reported that RSE workers are facing serious breaches of their basic rights at work (RNZ Pacific). The Government had also banned a group of Vanuatu seasonal workers from busking at a Motueka farmers market (RNZ).

The broader context here is that the proposal sat between two pressures the Government has been juggling. The horticulture sector wants easier access to Pacific labour, and the coalition agreement already raised the cap. But MBIE's own review shows the cap has not been reached in three years, which makes it harder to argue for removing it. The Government's announced package, focused on compliance, worker care and accommodation, points to where Cabinet is comfortable: not removing the cap, but tightening the rules around workers already in the scheme.

For those watching how the coalition parties work together, the outcome is notable. ACT's policy of scrapping RSE limits has not been adopted, even though the party can claim some credit for the cap increases already delivered. Stanford's proposal suggests she was willing to go further than her Cabinet colleagues allowed, and the decision minutes show the idea was stopped at committee stage rather than reaching the full Cabinet table.