Ni-Vanuatu fruit pickers 'worried' over fate of quake-affected relatives

Bay of Plenty kiwifruit company Seeka says it's supporting the 100 ni-Vanuatu fruit pickers helping with summer pruning to contact their families in earthquake-hit Vanuatu.

Follow updates with RNZ's live blog on the Vanuatu earthquake

Its people and culture manager Shelley Aitken said some of the workers in New Zealand to help with summer pruning on the vines were taking time off work while they tried to contact their families back home.

"They are a little shocked by the news obviously; they're quite worried about their families and their homes back in Vanuatu," Aitken said.

"Some of them are taking the day off today just to be together.

"We're working with them at the moment just to try and at this stage establish communications with their families to find out information about where they're at."

Here as part of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, the workers were helping with summer pruning on the vines.

Aitken said the focus was to support the workers "in any way we can" while more was understood about the situation.

"At this stage we're really focused on supporting our workers here on the ground, mainly because we don't have enough information about how we can help in the islands. So our focus is very much around supporting them, making sure they have everything they need."

They were originally scheduled to work in Aotearoa until February, she said, but returning home could be a possibility if it were needed.

"It will be a matter of trying to get them home too.. but if any of them have a strong desire, we will definitely try our best to work with them."

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment national manager Pacific Fa'amata Laumalili said it was working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from Vanuatu in New Zealand and employers were supported.

"We will be in contact with other RSE workers and employers who may be impacted as soon as possible," Laumalili said

"Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu and all of those affected by yesterday's earthquake."