A Hawke's Bay apple exporter has told the Government an advertising campaign to attract 300 New Zealand workers got more than 200 applications - but only 55 people ended up with jobs.

Those figures are part of the business case the region's growers used to successfully argue for more foreign seasonal workers to be allowed into the country, despite the Covid-19 restrictions.

Two thousand extra pickers will arrive from the Pacific in January - but the industry says that's still well short and locals simply don't want the jobs.

Hawke's Bay reporter Tom Kitchin obtained the documents under the Official Information Act and speaks to Corin Dann.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018775975