With a busy period of seasonal work coming up for the Hawke’s Bay, more orchard and vineyard owners are looking overseas for workers.

Department of Labour figures show more than 3000 overseas workers are registered to work in the region under their seasonal employer scheme – 16% up on last year.

Hastings Horticultural contractor Dave Ryder says a lack of local workers willing and able to work is forcing businesses to recruit foreigners.

"I don’t know how you encourage people that have become dependent on the doll as a lifestyle or a means of living, I don’t know how you encourage them back into the work force.

"We are employers, we don’t run a social service agency so..I don’t know what you do."

Mr Ryder says many New Zealand beneficiaries who are looking for work in the region are simply not up to the task of hard, physical labour on orchards.