Seasonal Fruit Picker Jobs in New Zealand 2024 with Free Accommodation

Summer fruit-picking jobs could be ideal if you wish to work in New Zealand while receiving free food and lodging. Everything you need to know about these occupations, including how to apply for, and obtain a visa, and what the requirements and benefits are, is included on this page.

Job Details

• Job Title: Seasonal Fruit Pickers/Seasonal Workers
• Job Country: New Zealand
• Expected Salary: $22.7- $29.6
• Visa Sponsorship and Employee Benefits available
• Free Food and Accommodation available

What is an RSE Visa?

If you have an RSE Visa (Recognized Seasonal Employer Visa), you can work in the agricultural, horticultural, and viticultural sectors of New Zealand. Benefits include free meals, accommodation, and assistance with obtaining a visa.

Conditions

• Minimum Age: Applicants must be at least eighteen years old to work harvesting fruit in the summer.
• Basic English Language Skills: To interact effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and employers, you do need to have a basic command of the English language, even though you may not need to speak it fluently.
• Physical Fitness: During specific seasons of the year, picking fruit necessitates working outside and performing strenuous activities like bending, lifting, and prolonged standing. Applying candidates should be able to perform the job and be in good physical condition.
• CV and Cover Letter Particular to New Zealand: Individuals who wish to work in New Zealand should draft a CV (resume) and cover letter tailored to the country’s employment market. These ought to emphasize relevant education, experience, and availability for temporary employment.
• Job Offer from Recognized Employers: Applicants must possess a job offer from a registered orchard in New Zealand or a recognized enterprise. These businesses should abide by labor and immigration rules, which include providing free lodging and food, as part of the employment package.
• Medical Insurance: Travelers to New Zealand are required to obtain health insurance that will cover them while they are in the country. This insurance should cover accidents, medical expenses, and, if necessary, return transportation.
• Valid Work Visa or Permission: Depending on their nation and the duration of their employment, applicants may require a valid work visa or permission to work lawfully in New Zealand. Before traveling to the nation, you ought to obtain this visa.
• Banking Documents or Other Proof of Funds: Despite receiving free food and accommodation, applicants may still need to provide evidence that they can cover their costs while in New Zealand.

Job Benefits

Many benefits are available to people who obtain seasonal fruit picking work in New Zealand via the Work Holiday Work Visa or the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) program, including:

• Seasonal Work Visa: People can work in New Zealand during certain seasons under the RSE plan, which is also called the Work Holiday Work Visa. This allows them to experience the local way of life, pick up skills, and earn money while they’re there.
• Simple Extension Options: Depending on their credentials and the requirements of their employers, workers may be eligible to extend their seasonal work visa or convert to a new kind of visa, allowing them to stay in New Zealand for an extended period.
• Free Housing: A lot of businesses that participate in the RSE program provide seasonal workers with free or inexpensive housing. This lowers living expenses and guarantees that employees have a comfortable place to stay while they work.
• A good pay package: depending on experience, output, and the sort of fruit harvested, picking fruit during harvest season typically pays NZD 20 to 25 an hour or more.
• Paid overtime: Employees who put in more time may receive additional compensation, which can help them increase their income during busy farming seasons or on occasions when they need to put in longer hours.
• Weekly Payment Options: Employees are often paid once a week by their employers. This helps them maintain their financial stability and budget by ensuring that they are paid on schedule and regularly.
• Huge labor market: Due to the year-round harvesting of various crops, New Zealand’s agricultural sector has a massive labor market. This provides an opportunity for casual workers to gain knowledge about various crops and farming techniques.

Average Salary

The normal salary ranges from NZD 22 to NZD 29 per hour, or from NZD 0.60 to NZD 1 per kilogram. It is contingent upon experience, hours performed, and the policies of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Harvesting fruit: Harvesting ripe fruit by hand or with specialized equipment like ladders or picking poles from fields, orchards, or vines. Picking guidelines must be followed by employees to ensure that the fruit is of high caliber and doesn’t sustain excessive damage.
• Packing and Sorting: arranging freshly harvested veggies according to size, freshness, and quality criteria. placing fruits in boxes, crates, or containers according to the packaging requirements, after which they should be palletized, stacked, and labeled.
• Mowing the land, planting new trees, pruning back limbs, and pulling weeds are all part of maintaining an orchard. Trees can be kept healthy and encouraged to grow with the use of various tools, such as saws and trimming shears.
• Apple thinning is the process of manually removing excess fruit from apple trees to allow the remaining fruit to develop into larger, healthier fruit. Better fruit and more fruit are produced as a result of the method.
• Cleaning and Maintaining Orchards: Cleaning and maintaining orchards include removing trash, maintaining irrigation systems, mending fences, and ensuring that all machinery is in good operating order. Employees may also assist with fertilizer spread instructions or insect control.
• Fruit Picking: To transport gathered fruit to locations for packing or storage, arrange it in buckets or containers. This can entail operating forklifts, conveyor lines, or other machinery to move containers rapidly.
• Operating Tractors or Other Vehicles: To move equipment, transport gathered fruit, or assist with orchard maintenance, some seasonal fruit pickers may need to operate tractors, trucks, or other types of vehicles.

How to Apply

You need to locate a boss before you can apply for a fruit-picking job in New Zealand. Once you obtain an offer of employment from a Recognized Employer in the nation, you can apply online for an RSE Work Visa at the official website of New Zealand.

Conclusion

Seasonal fruit pickers in New Zealand are rewarded with free food, lodging, and a competitive salary, among other benefits. Employing foreign labor is made simpler for businesses by the RSE Visa program. These workers have the opportunity to learn more about the agriculture sector in New Zealand, earn money, and get experience.