Employment

Seasonal Work opportunities abound. Just take a look and see what makes fruit picking and harvest work in Hawke's Bay such a good choice for your working holiday. You can contact a coordinator in Hawke's Bay by emailing: hawkesbay@picknz.co.nz 

If you are aged between 18 and 30 years you may be eligible for the working holiday scheme which enables you to come and work in New Zealand for up to a year. Working holiday visas must be obtained in your own country prior to departure in most cases.

Timing of seasonal jobs available

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

Fruit thinning is usually carried out during the months of November and December. Excess fruit is removed from the tree by hand to allow the remaining fruit to grow to an acceptable size. Poor quality fruit is also removed at this early stage. Usually this job is paid on a piece work basis. Most often a price per tree is established and your earnings are derived from the amount of trees you thin per day or week.

DECEMBER - MARCH

Summerfruit harvest season starts early in December (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines). Such work can be found but is somewhat scarce. More plentiful work can be found from early to mid February as the apple harvest gets into full swing.

FEBRUARY - APRIL

The apple harvest  starts in mid February and goes through until late April or mid May. (Packhouses to end of June in most cases).  February and mid March are usually very warm in Hawke's Bay.  Late March and April are  often milder as autumn begins. May is often much cooler and daylight saving has come to an end, often more rain is experienced at this time so warmer clothing and rain gear is needed.

LATE MAY-APRIL

The Kiwifruit season follows the apple harvest and is usually done on a piece work basis. Kiwi fruit pickers tend to work in groups (gangs) and split the days (or weeks) earnings evenly within the gang.

Other work is often also available. This type of work includes tractor driving, to pick up the bins harvested by the fruit pickers, quality controlling, to ensure the pickers are picking the fruit to the required quality, and packhouse work, which is in a enclosed warehouse where the fruit is graded and packaged in readiness for exporting. This type of work is most usually paid on an hourly basis.

Harvesting is usually done on a piece rate basis. This means that the picker is paid a set rate for each bin that is picked/tree that is thinned/other type of work.  Essentially, when you have gained enough experience, the harder you work, the more you can earn on piece rates.

The advantages of piece work are that often (on good picking days) you can make much more that the standard hourly rate. (sometimes up to twice or three time the normal hourly rate). You can work your own hours within reason. You can stop for breaks when you want for as long as you want. The picking is physically (and mentally) demanding and you will work hard for your hourly rate. The job is very physical so please be prepared to be fit or get fit fast while on the job. You will be sore for the first few days until your body adjusts to the new demands of fruit picking.

The benefits of hourly work are, you are paid for the hours you work (excepting for rainy days), set hours of work, and the work is may not be so physically demanding. The main disadvantage of hourly work is that there is no extra incentive or opportunity to make more money within the same amount of hours worked or less. 

Tuition is often given for beginners and bin rates are adjusted as to the availability of the fruit. The more ripe fruit, and the easier the picking, for example, will often result in a lower rate per bin. If the fruit is harder to find and the trees are taller, increasing the amount of effort required to fill a bin, then the rate per bin is usually increased.