On Tuesday 21st March 2017, guests from Pacific States and Australia alongside representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) celebrated the successful launch of a data collection tool for the nine Pacific Island States that participated in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. This project was made possible by MFAT funding to implement the Strengthening Pacific Partnerships (SPP) Project and is a genuine partnership between MBIE, MFAT and the Pacific. It has taken eighteen months for this project to be completed and with the close network and support of the Pacific institutions in the respective capitals has enabled SV8 Consultant Ltd to complete this project in time. Matt Hoskin, National Manager Skills and Investment, explained the benefits of this data collection tool. “These databases will enable those Pacific countries that take part in RSE to more efficiently and effectively manage their RSE workforce, and into the future, their total workforce as we expand labour mobility into new sectors. “We’re now able to collect data on each worker and each potential worker coming to New Zealand. Employers will have good information at their fingertips that helps with the selection of employees.” Fijian High Commissioner, Filimone Waqabaca says there are benefits to Pacific countries too. “People returning from the RSE Programme bring not only financial support for their communities but new learning as well. This database will help Pacific countries identify where most RSE scheme workers are coming from and encourage people from other parts of the country to participate in the scheme to benefit the economy of their local area.” For MFAT this data collection tool means they can better track the money being sent back to Pacific Countries. Kerryn Lang, Development Manager for Pacific labour mobility says, “the database can help us track remittance flows back to the Pacific and get a better picture of the economic impacts of RSE for the workers’ families and communities. It could also be an area for collaboration with Australia in future, using this information tool for mutual benefit.” The domain for Samoa’s website is www.samoastrong.ws and the responsibility is on the Pacific Government Officials to update their country’s database and website of worker’s information and registration. The Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is the focal point for the RSE program and the database has already been set-up for the worker’s information to be updated on a regular basis by the Ministry.