At Seasonal Solutions Cooperative
(“SSCO” for short)
we specialise in helping our members grow and harvest crops around New Zealand.
While we are based around providing a seasonal workforce, we do things a little differently around here.
The clue is in the word “Cooperative” in our name. What that means is we’re made up of a group of growers, nurseries and contractors working together with our staff and seasonal team to grow great futures together.
By working together we can maximise the use of available labour (which helps our members, our communities and our economy) and provide greater employment opportunities for our team (which helps our team to grow their prosperity and meet their goals).
It’s a win-win.
We’ve got history in this space. In fact, we’re proud to have been first on the scene! The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) policy was introduced in 2007 to allow for the temporary entry of offshore workers to work in the New Zealand horticulture and viticulture industries.
But before that, in 2006, SSCO was involved in helping pilot the scheme from the outset, and we’re happy to have been involved ever since. We’re also the second largest RSE Employer in New Zealand – second only to our friends at “Mr Apple”.
Working in with the RSE scheme we have been able to help transform the horticulture and viticulture industries from low cost industries to industries based on quality, productivity, and high value through improved business practices. At the same time, we’re involved with creating a sustainable seasonal labour supply, and encouraging Pacific economic development, regional integration, and stability.
This history also gives us important industry-specific expertise. With deep experience across the primary industry, we understand the seasonal peaks, quality demands, and regulatory context of the work.
In New Zealand, a cooperative is a unique and purpose-driven business model built around member ownership, democratic control, and shared benefit.
In the New Zealand context, cooperatives offer a way for producers to band together, pool resources, and maximise productivity. By working together we can deliver the best quality seasonal labour service to our stakeholders.
This cooperative structure also provides greater employment and financial opportunities for workers. They are able to extend their season, by (for example) working for multiple members across different geographical areas – rather than being constrained to work for a shorter time for just one grower. We are able to offer greater wraparound and pastoral care as a collective, and help ensure staff can meet financial and personal goals for longer term benefit.
By collaborating with our team in the Pacific we can ensure a connectivity between communities, cultures, and aspirations.
A cooperative is owned by its members – the very people who use its goods or services – rather than by external investors. Control lies with those members, who have a say in how the cooperative is run.
The focus is on fulfilling the economic, social and cultural needs of members rather than simply chasing maximum profits for external shareholders.
New Zealand cooperatives follow the globally recognised “Rochdale Principles” (adapted by the International Cooperative Alliance) which include voluntary open membership; democratic member control; member economic participation; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; cooperation among cooperatives; and concern for community.
Our head office is located in Alexandra, with satellite offices in Marlborough and Canterbury. Our team support members on vineyards, farms, and orchards all over the South Island.
We also partner with other horticulture and agriculture industries in other areas of New Zealand to maximise the use of available labour. Our seasonal staff mainly join us via the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme which allows our workers from Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands to work in New Zealand within primary industry for up to seven months of the year.
SSCO has a ‘Kiwi First’ policy and are proactive in seeking suitable New Zealand workers for roles and assisting them into full time permanent work in the viticultural and horticulture industries.
We also provide labour to our shareholders with Working Holiday visa holders where vacancies cannot be filled by Kiwis or RSE Labour.
