New Zealand Government

 We are in the necessity of communicating with you to be able to make a call for helping us in the current situation in the world.

 We are several of the seasonal wine workers who return to your country year after year to help to carry out the harvests. We are people from all countries and colors, but with the same dream of work, sometimes hard, but we always manage to finish the harvest successfully.

 This year has been hard for us as well as for you and for the whole world due to the existing pandemic, but with all the difficulties that this entails, the health regulations were respected day by day, and risking our health we managed to end this 2020 season  .

 We are people of effort who always delivered the best of us for the country, for the season and for each of the companies for which we work giving everything of what we have, always expecting mutual support as we have lived, but today we felt that we are exposed and abandoned  in a problem that although it is at the country level, leaves us vulnerable on a personal level.

 We understand and we are aware that we are not the only ones with problems, that there are always people who are in worst conditions, but I believe that just as we take care of our jobs, that are so important for this country, now is the time for us to be paid for those efforts by giving ourselves help with minimal care to cope with this social problem in a more dignified way.

 Several weeks ago we received an email at the country level informing us that all those who were currently in New Zealand would have their visa extended immediately due to a matter of protection and security, this being the best option to protect and save ourselves from  this great virus that is taking millions of lives in an aggressive way in several countries.  But unfortunately less than two days ago we received the news through our works that there is no possibility for us regarding changes in visa conditions, increasing fears and uncertainties since that forces us each to return to our corresponding countries without any help.

 
 The wine season is over making it impossible to keep jobs, and not all wineries have vineyards, so we are several people who are abandoned without any solution for our future.  We really understand the extreme situation that is going on, but at the same time we believe that just as New Zealand has been seen worldwide as a country that cares about its people, we can try to find a solution to all this ordeal and still demonstrate plus their competence and humanity at the country level.
 

We believe it is imperative to emphasize why we ask for this help so urgently so that you can understand us.

 1- Some of us do not have flights since the airlines have collapsed or the companies have closed, so there is no way to return.

 2- Some airlines are abusing this pandemic by making prices inaccessible to some of us.

 3- Some countries do not have social policies as they do here, especially affecting health issues, so returning is almost a suicide for us, putting not only our own health at risk, but also that of our family members.

 We understand that this is out of everyone's hands and that the economic situation is difficult around the world, but the only thing we are asking is that they be a little more flexible in visa policies in order to give us the opportunity to work in  essential places for the country and so lastly to be able to maintain ourselves with accommodation and food until this can be balanced a bit more, we are not asking for much and we know that people will really be needed for these types of jobs, we have seen that they need  Year after year and despite the fact that perhaps there are many local people who are looking for these job vacancies and we understand that they have preference when hiring, the only thing we ask for is an opportunity to help each other.

 We hope that they give us the opportunity since there are several people with immense desire to work and to survive this that we are going through.

 We ask you from the heart as human beings who love this place as much as you do.  We finish this writing waiting for an opportunity along with a light of hope that can come to our aid and calm.

Atte
Caterina Rossi & Wineworkers