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Abstract
Labour supply in the vineyards of the Marlborough region of New Zealand is a pressing issue for industry development. Drawing on a mix of recent ethnographic and other qualitative research, this paper discusses the demographics of the labour force of the Marlborough vineyards and the experiences and meanings of this work among these workers. The paper is organized into three substantive sections. The first outlines the nature of the work, pay and conditions, and health and safety issues. The second section discusses the demographics and the experiences and meanings particular to sub-groups within the labour force. The third and final section discusses the implications of the previous two sections for policymakers. The paper argues that recognition of the diversity of labour as well as the seasonality of demand is pivotal to resolving tensions between social and economic policy, and that more work needs to be carried out in this area.
Notes
1. The wider Nelson-Marlborough region enjoys New Zealand's lowest unemployment rate of 2.7% (WINZ, Citation2005).
2. With the exception of older workers and inexperienced workers (who are often slower workers), many, if not most, workers prefer working on a piece-rate to an hourly rate as it is perceived to give them the opportunity to earn considerably more than they would otherwise. The majority of work on most worksites, year-round, especially for non-permanent workers, is done on a piece-rate.
3. The various rates that we recorded are consistent with popularly accepted figures (The Marlborough Express, Citation2005).