Tongan RSE workers remain in hospital following the Rotorua crash

Photo: RNZ/Patrice Allen

Four seasonal workers from Tonga spent the night in hospital after the bus taking them to work in Hawke’s Bay crashed near Rotorua.

Twelve people were injured in the accident on Sunday morning. They were part of a group of 30 seasonal workers heading to apple thinning work at the Mr Apple orchard in Hawke’s Bay.

On Monday, four of the injured were still in hospital and in stable condition

It was the second serious crash involving seasonal workers in the past three months.

In August, three Samoan seasonal workers were killed on State Highway 1 in Auckland when a truck burst a tire and collided with three other vehicles.

This is what Apple spokesman Gary Jones said Morning report the company was informed of the “tragedy” early on Sunday.

The injured had been taken to three different hospitals and a Tongan liaison officer with orchard staff was dispatched to assist at the scene, he said.

Most of the seasonal workers had arrived in Hawke’s Bay by Sunday evening and the company was supporting the RSE workers as much as possible.

Apple employed about 1,200 seasonal workers annually, and Tongan employees stayed with the company for an average of five years, Jones said.

“We have very good connections in Hawke’s Bay with our church communities – faith is very important to this group.”

The company would also provide counselors to the crash victims.

“We’re going to take it slow with the workers and just assess what they want to make sure we wrap the arms of the community around them and take care of them as best we can.”

Workers were expected to begin thinning the apples this week, but the company said it would discuss next steps with them after the accident and “proceed very cautiously in that space.”

Jones could not provide further details about the accident.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.