Twenty-eight skilled construction workers from three Pacific Islands, including Tonga, will be working on the Christchurch rebuild, to fill skills shortages before the end of May this year.

This is trial project for one-year as part of the PACER Plus trade and economic integration agreement, available to skilled tradesmen in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

This opportunity was provided through a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Pacific Trust Canterbury and the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT).

At the end of this trial, these Pacific workers will have a qualification they can use for other opportunities.

Tony Fakahau, CEO of Pacific Trust, said the agreement is a significant step from the Recognised Seasonal Employment schemes between New Zealand and Pacific nations that provide seasonal work in horticulture and viticulture industries.

He said this trial was targeting skilled workers as opposed to unskilled, so was a major development, and highlighted the relationship New Zealand has with its Pacific nations.

"They will earn a high level of income as skilled workers and the pastoral care they'll receive will ensure they make a decent sustainable living."

He said they see this as a pilot scheme, which has the potential to grow a lot bigger.

"It's a major milestone for PTC because we are stepping out into the Pacific region and working with governments of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji alongside the New Zealand government to start this trial. This is only for the construction industry in Canterbury, where there is skills shortage but the opportunity could expand to other industries where there are shortages of skilled workers."

Support

Pacific Trust Canterbury has hosted representatives from the governments of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji along with MBIE and the employers over the last few months to work out the details on implementation.

A delegation from the employers, MBIE, CPIT and Pacific Trust Canterbury will carry out interviews and induction in the three islands from now to mid-May.

PTC will provide pastoral care for the workers like supporting them to settle into life, community support and finding them suitable affordable and accessible worker accommodation.

CPIT will be responsible for assessing the appropriately skilled workers in the Pacific and providing on the job training of workers when they start their employment with the aim to get their NZQA accredited carpentry qualifications, at the end of their one year in New Zealand.