Jobs & Money Detail
Seasonal work in New Zealand
Jo-ann Hodgson investigates the opportunities New Zealand holds for seasonal workers and looks at the attractions and practicalities of such types of work for UK citizens
"New Zealand has plenty to offer as a destination for a working holiday and it's now easier than ever before to come Down Under," says Damon Harvey from Pick NZ, a portal of information about working in New Zealand. Indeed, New Zealand employment regulations have been relaxed in recent years to overcome the potential worker shortages that occur within the country's horticulture industry in certain seasons.
A harvest trail of horticultural and viticulture work is available all year round in New Zealand, with work beginning around September in the Central Otago orchards and from January within the viticulture industry in areas such as Hawke's Bay and Marlborough. "There are opportunities for horticulture work – commercial fruit and vegetable growing – now in the Hawke's Bay, Nelson and Central Otago regions. These are just some of the main growing regions," says Leigh Catley from Horticulture New Zealand. "There will be other work in regions like Waikato, Marlborough, Martinborough and Northland now. Also, the Bay of Plenty's kiwifruit harvest starts in about April and requires thousands of extra workers."
Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) permits opens up many doors of opportunity for those looking to discover new areas of New Zealand and many jobs don't require the employee to have any specific skills or experience. Anyone with UK citizenship WHO IS aged between 18 and 30 can work in New Zealand on the WHS permit and it is advised that you obtain this before leaving the UK. "UK citizens with a WHS permit can be here for up to 23 months, working for up to three months for any one employer. If you work in horticulture or viticulture, the WHS visa can be extended for a further three months," explains Catley. He continues: "Anyone coming here on a visitor's visa, once they have arrived and have a job offer in an area where a worker shortage has been declared by the Government (which is most of our harvest regions), can apply for a 'variation of conditions' on their visa which will give them a work permit to work in horticulture for six weeks. "There is also a longer four-month work permit available called a Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer, or TRSE, permit. The worker has to apply for this here and can only work for employers who are TRSE registered."
The benefits of harvesting work include the opportunities to work outdoors, get fit, meet new people and learn new skills, whilst also earning good money. Some fruit- and vegetable-picking jobs are paid by the hour and others by contract rate, for example you may get paid a set amount for each bin of apples you fill. Average wages for this type of work range from NZ$200 to NZ$500 per week. As well as literal 'fieldwork', seasonal job opportunities can be found in a wide range of employment fields throughout New Zealand. "The hospitality industry requires staff all year in the hotels and restaurants, as the summer season quickly becomes the ski season at Mount Ruapehu and Queenstown," says Janine Arnerich from SeasonalWork.co.nz. "Experienced workers in
hospitality can earn good money and also have accommodation provided." She continues: "The ratio of New Zealand to overseas workers, as seasonal workers, is about 50 per cent, with the visitors generally proving to be reliable, hardworking and keenly interested in their field of employment. "Employers are generally keen to employ British citizens who meet the working holiday criteria as they have a reputation of being good workers."
Janice recalls that, among the more obscure employment opportunities listed on Seasonalwork.co.nz last year was an advert from a local rugby club in Galatea,enticing players to come and live, work and play rugby in the area. "The response was enthusiastic," she says. "During the 2006/07 rugby season the club fielded players from the USA, Europe, South America and Australia. Without the foreign players, the club wouldn't have been able to field a team." The great thing about seasonal employment opportunities in New Zealand is that they allow you to perfectly combine work and play.
Whether you want to be involved in winter leisure activities, adventure tourism or fancy working in the great outdoors surrounded by vineyards, orchards and New Zealand's stunning topography, the opportunities are out there.
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US seasonal visas
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Browse current job offers in New Zealand
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