Kiwifruit Harvest Jobs in New Zealand: High-Earning Seasonal Opportunities 2026

New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry employs over 20,000 seasonal workers annually, offering some of the country’s highest-paying harvest jobs with clear pathways to visa extensions and potential residency. The Bay of Plenty region dominates production, creating concentrated employment opportunities from March through June.

Why Kiwifruit Picking Pays Premium Wages

Kiwifruit harvesting is skilled work requiring careful handling to avoid bruising. Experienced pickers earn NZD $25-$35 hourly through piece-rate systems, with top performers exceeding NZD $40 hourly during peak productivity. Average seasonal earnings range NZD $12,000-$22,000 over 3-5 month contracts.

Peak Season Timeline and Employment Duration

Harvest Season: March to June (autumn harvest) Pruning Season: June to August (winter work) Thinning/Summer Work: November to February

Year-round employment possible by combining harvest, pruning, and summer maintenance work with single employer or across multiple orchards.

Bay of Plenty: New Zealand’s Kiwifruit Capital

Te Puke, Tauranga, and surrounding Bay of Plenty communities produce 80% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit. This concentration creates thousands of simultaneous job openings with readily available accommodation and established seasonal worker infrastructure.

Wages in Bay of Plenty: NZD $23.15-$30 hourly (minimum wage to experienced rates), with piece-rate workers earning significantly more based on productivity.

Piece-Rate vs. Hourly Payment Structures

Piece-Rate: Payment per bin picked (typically NZD $20-$28 per bin). Fast, experienced pickers harvest 8-12+ bins daily, earning NZD $160-$336 per day. Requires physical fitness and efficiency.

Hourly Rate: Guaranteed minimum wage (NZD $23.15 as of 2026) regardless of picking speed. Suitable for beginners or those preferring income stability.

Most employers offer choice between payment methods, allowing workers to switch based on confidence and skill development.

Types of Kiwifruit Work Available

Pickers: Harvest fruit using clippers, place in bins. Most common role with highest labor demand.

Bin Runners: Transport full bins from orchard to collection points using tractors or all-terrain vehicles. Requires equipment operation skills.

Quality Controllers: Inspect picked fruit, ensure grade standards. Experienced pickers often progress to these roles.

Packers: Indoor packhouse work sorting, grading, and packing fruit. Year-round employment in larger facilities, wages NZD $23-$27 hourly.

Pruners: Winter work cutting canes, shaping vines. Skilled position earning NZD $25-$32 hourly.

Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme

New Zealand’s RSE scheme brings workers from Pacific Islands for guaranteed employment. While primarily for Pacific nationals, the scheme’s structure influences industry employment standards and demonstrates government support for seasonal agricultural workers.

International working holiday visa holders access the same positions with identical wages, creating competitive earning opportunities.

Working Holiday Visa Requirements for Kiwifruit Work

Citizens of 44+ countries qualify for New Zealand Working Holiday Visas allowing up to 23 months stay (extendable for some nationalities). No job offer required before arrival.

Key Advantage: After 3 months kiwifruit work in Bay of Plenty or Hawke’s Bay, visa holders receive 3-month visa extensions, enabling longer stays and additional earning.

Accommodation Options for Kiwifruit Workers

Orchard-Provided Housing: Many employers offer caravan parks, cabins, or shared houses at NZD $100-$150 weekly. Basic but convenient, often on-site or nearby.

Private Rentals: Rooms in Te Puke/Tauranga NZD $150-$250 weekly. Share houses common among seasonal workers.

Holiday Parks: NZD $180-$280 weekly for cabin accommodation with facilities.

Backpacker Hostels: NZD $25-$40 nightly, suitable for short-term before securing seasonal accommodation.

Budget NZD $600-$800 monthly for accommodation during kiwifruit season.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Kiwifruit picking requires:

• Standing/reaching 6-8 hours daily
• Repetitive arm movements (clipping, placing fruit)
• Working from ladders or platforms
• Outdoor exposure to variable weather
• Early starts (typically 6:30-7:00 AM)

Physically demanding but manageable with reasonable fitness. Injury rates low compared to other agricultural work when proper technique used.

Finding Kiwifruit Jobs from Abroad

Pick NZ: Official horticulture job board (picknz.co.nz) listing verified RSE and seasonal positions.

Backpacker Jobs: Seasonworkersnz.co.nz, backpackerboard.co.nz dedicated to harvest work.

直接联系果园: Seeka, Apata Group, DMS Progrowers, Eastpack major employers hiring directly through websites.

Facebook Groups: “Bay of Plenty Seasonal Work”, “Kiwifruit Jobs NZ” connect workers with employers.

Arrival in Te Puke: Walk-in applications during season (March-May) often successful given high demand.

Immigration Pathways Beyond Working Holiday

Essential Skills Work Visa: After working holiday, skilled kiwifruit positions (supervisors, quality managers) qualify for Essential Skills visas with employer sponsorship. Requires demonstrated skill level.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): Replaced Essential Skills in 2022. Packhouse supervisors and orchard managers earning NZD $55,000+ qualify for 2-3 year visas.

Residence Pathways: Limited for harvest workers, but progression to supervisory/management roles creates eligibility for Skilled Migrant Category after several years.

Packhouse Work: Indoor Alternative to Picking

Packhouses operate year-round with extended hours during harvest (April-June). Work includes:

Graders: Sort fruit by size and quality, NZD $23-$26 hourly Packers: Pack export cartons, NZD $23-$27 hourly (piece-rate options available) Quality Assurance: Inspect packed product, NZD $27-$32 hourly Line Supervisors: Oversee packing operations, NZD $50,000-$65,000 annually

Climate-controlled environment preferable to outdoor work for some workers. More stable hours and potential for year-round employment.

Earnings Potential and Savings Calculations

Conservative Scenario:

• 16 weeks work at NZD $24 hourly, 45 hours weekly = NZD $17,280 gross
• Accommodation NZD $2,400, food NZD $2,400, transport NZD $800
• Net savings: NZD $10,000-$12,000

High-Performer Scenario:

• 20 weeks work, piece-rate averaging NZD $32 hourly, 48 hours weekly = NZD $30,720 gross
• Similar expenses
• Net savings: NZD $20,000-$24,000

Tax rate approximately 17.5% for these income levels (NZD $14,000-$48,000 band).

Equipment and Clothing Requirements

Employers provide:

• Secateurs/clippers
• Picking bags or buckets
• Safety equipment

Workers supply:

• Sun protection (hats, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes
• Work gloves (optional but recommended)

Initial outlay: NZD $100-$150 for appropriate clothing.

Tax and IRD Number Requirements

All workers must obtain IRD (Inland Revenue Department) number before starting employment. Application free, processing 8-10 business days. Apply online before arrival or immediately upon arrival.

Tax deducted automatically from wages (PAYE system). Annual tax returns may result in refunds if overtaxed.

Transportation in Bay of Plenty

Personal Vehicle: Most flexible option. Used cars available from NZD $2,000-$5,000. Resaleable after season.

Bicycle: Te Puke is small and bikeable. Bicycles NZD $100-$300.

Employer Transport: Some orchards provide van pickups from accommodation.

Public Transport: Limited in rural areas. Tauranga has bus service but infrequent to orchard areas.

Budget NZD $500-$1,000 for seasonal transport if purchasing vehicle, or NZD $100-$300 for bicycle option.

Combining Kiwifruit with Other Seasonal Work

Create year-round agricultural employment by moving between regions:

• March-June: Kiwifruit harvest (Bay of Plenty)
• June-September: Pruning work or apple harvest preparation (Hawke’s Bay)
• October-December: Apple thinning (Hawke’s Bay, Nelson)
• January-February: Grape harvest (Marlborough) or apple harvest start

This circuit maximizes earnings and maintains continuous employment for working holiday visa holders.

Health and Safety Standards

New Zealand orchards maintain high safety standards under Health and Safety at Work Act. Employers must provide:

• Safety inductions and training
• Accident compensation coverage (ACC)
• Safe equipment and scaffolding
• Rest breaks and facilities

Workers have right to refuse unsafe work without penalty.

Social Environment and Community

Bay of Plenty seasonal work attracts international backpackers creating vibrant social scene. Organized events, sports leagues, and social gatherings common in Te Puke and Tauranga during harvest season.

Orchard work often team-based, fostering friendships and reducing isolation common in some agricultural roles.

Skill Development and Career Progression

Starting as picker, progression opportunities include:

Season 1: Basic picker (NZD $23-$28 hourly) Season 2: Experienced picker/bin runner (NZD $28-$35 hourly) Season 3+: Quality controller, team leader (NZD $30-$38 hourly) Long-term: Orchard supervisor/manager (NZD $55,000-$75,000 annually)

Returning seasonal workers receive preference for positions and higher starting rates.

Weather Impacts and Income Variability

Rain stops outdoor picking. While hourly workers receive minimum wage during weather delays, piece-rate workers earn less during wet periods when productivity drops.

Bay of Plenty autumn typically offers stable weather, but budget for 10-20% weather-related income reduction in conservative financial planning.

Working Rights and Employment Protections

New Zealand employment law protects seasonal workers equally to permanent employees:

• Minimum wage guaranteed
• Maximum 40 ordinary hours weekly (overtime rates beyond)
• Rest and meal breaks required
• Public holiday entitlements
• ACC injury coverage

Employment agreements must be written. Keep copies and understand entitlements.

End-of-Season Considerations

Tax Refunds: Most seasonal workers receive tax refunds (NZD $500-$2,000) when filing annual returns if overtaxed.

Superannuation: KiwiSaver contributions (3% employee, 3% employer) can be withdrawn when leaving NZ permanently.

Equipment Resale: Sell vehicles, bikes, gear before departure to recoup costs.

Kiwifruit Industry Outlook

Global demand for New Zealand kiwifruit growing, particularly premium SunGold variety. Industry expansion creates sustained employment through 2030, with new plantings requiring additional seasonal labor.

Zespri (marketing authority) forecasts 10-15% production growth over five years, translating to 2,000-3,000 additional seasonal positions annually.

Practical Arrival Strategy

1. Arrive Bay of Plenty late February/early March
2. Secure temporary accommodation (hostel/holiday park)
3. Obtain IRD number immediately
4. Apply multiple orchards simultaneously
5. Accept first offer, continue seeking better positions if desired
6. Transition to orchard-provided accommodation once employed
7. Build network for next season or year-round work

Kiwifruit harvest work offers international workers excellent earning potential, cultural immersion in New Zealand’s agricultural heartland, and foundation for extended stays through visa extensions or progression to skilled roles with residency pathways.