The fruit picking season is here, and the first temporary migrants have swung into action in New Zealand orchards.

A Flaxmere company is praising the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme for easing workloads during the picking season. One company alone, Bostock New Zealand, has welcomed over 200 seasonal workers from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Indonesia as part of the scheme.

Owner John Bostock said more than 80 percent of their employees return again the next season and are incredibly grateful for the cash injection to their communities.

He adds they're challenged by a labour shortage in New Zealand during the seasonal period and the scheme eases the pressure on growers.

But First Union Migrant Workers Coordinator Dennis Maga is calling for Immigration New Zealand to stomp out the 'bad apples'. He insists it's tough work with low pay and not all companies provide hospitable working environments.

He's recommends Immigration New Zealand carry out spot checks on accommodation provided by employers and is asking for an orientation seminar to be shown to all migrants so they're fully aware of their rights.

"Just because they are earning more than their home country doesn't mean they should work in poor working conditions," he said.

University of Auckland Senior Lecturer Dr Francis Collins said schemes like the RSE limit workers, and is asking why New Zealand doesn't offer working holiday visas to migrants from the Pacific, like we do for many other countries.

Collins said when you're on a working holiday visas you can change jobs, move around and change Visas - all of which aren't options on the RSE scheme.