Riwaka’s Cederman Brothers awarded ‘Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) of the Year’

Riwaka’s own Cederman Brothers Ltd has been awarded the prestigious title of Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) of the Year, celebrating the orchard’s deep-rooted commitment to its workers and the wider community.

A family orchard since 1975, Cederman Brothers employs over 50 seasonal workers from Samoa and Fiji each year, alongside 19 local staff. But their impact extends far beyond job creation.

The orchard offers a range of skills training programmes and opportunities for personal growth and wellbeing. It actively supports its workers’ sporting pursuits by encouraging participation in various sports, sponsoring uniforms, and allowing time off to compete.

One of the company’s most distinctive qualities is its respect for Samoan culture and values. Recognising the importance of Sunday as a day of rest and worship, Cederman Brothers ensures workers can observe it as a Sabbath. They also actively support church participation and community initiatives, including health programmes run by the Nelson Cenacle of Divine Mercy, which focus on diabetes awareness and promoting healthy lifestyles.

In 2020, Cederman Bros Ltd became a Golden Partner of the Marist Samoa International Sevens, partnering with the UN Samoa Office to sponsor a disability rugby team and promote inclusion in one of Samoa’s top sporting events. Recognised by Samoa’s seasonal assessments as a leading RSE employer, Cederman Bros won gold medals in both 2024 and 2025. Their employment opportunities have helped many workers achieve life-changing goals—such as funding tertiary education, starting farms, and launching small businesses in their home countries.

But for the team, it’s all simply part of everyday life at the orchard.

“We like to stay under the radar,” says Melissa Cullen, Human Resources and RSE Manager at Cederman Brothers, who has been part of the team for 18 years.

“However, this award reflects the dedication of our team, and we’re proud to see our RSE staff grow and succeed.”

“We think of the boys as part of our family,” Melissa continues. “It’s really awesome for the fruit industry to have this award in our area—it could have gone to anyone in New Zealand.”

In a recent media release, HortNZ, which awarded Cederman Brothers the RSE of the Year title, praised them for their people-first approach, cultural respect, and strong community investment. HortNZ said these qualities set a benchmark not only for the RSE scheme in New Zealand but also across the Asia-Pacific region.

Following the award, Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford is scheduled to visit the orchard and its workers this November. Melissa says while it will be nice to have the minister visit, not much will change for them.

“The RSE team are not just part of the business — they are the business. We would not be here without them. When we grow together, we succeed together.”

With their people-first philosophy firmly in place, Cederman Brothers Ltd looks forward to continuing their strong support for seasonal workers and setting an example for others who employ or work with RSE staff.