New Zealand’s orchards and vineyards are some of the biggest employers of overseas workers in the country’s primary sector. From apple blocks in Hawke’s Bay to kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty, cherry orchards in Central Otago, and vineyards across Marlborough, growers rely heavily on a mix of seasonal and year-round labour — and many are open to hiring workers from outside New Zealand when they cannot fill roles locally.
This guide covers the main types of orchard and vineyard work available, what the jobs actually involve, realistic pay rates, and the honest picture on which visa routes are actually open to a foreign worker applying from a country like Nigeria.
Types of Orchard and Vineyard Jobs
Apple Orchards (Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Central Otago)
- Picking: Hand-harvesting apples during the February–May harvest window, often paid partly on a piece-rate (per bin) basis on top of an hourly base.
- Thinning and pruning: Off-season work removing excess fruit or branches to improve the next season’s crop — runs through winter and spring.
- Packhouse work: Sorting, grading, and packing fruit — indoor, more consistent hours, less physically demanding than picking.
Kiwifruit Orchards (Bay of Plenty)
- Picking and bin work: The kiwifruit harvest (roughly April–June) is one of the largest seasonal labour demands in the country.
- Vine work: Girdling, tipping, and pollination-related tasks earlier in the season.
- Packhouse and grading roles: Available almost year-round given how much fruit moves through Bay of Plenty packhouses.
Cherry Orchards (Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay)
- A short, intense harvest window (December–January) that pays well because growers need fruit off the trees fast before weather damages it.
- Frost-fighting work in spring (running wind machines or irrigation overnight to protect blossom) is another paid role on cherry orchards.
Vineyard Work (Marlborough, Central Otago, Hawke’s Bay)
- Pruning: Winter work, cutting back vines — steady, technical, and often the first role a new vineyard worker learns.
- Canopy work: Shoot thinning, leaf plucking, and wire lifting through spring and summer.
- Harvest: Grape picking (usually machine-assisted in NZ, but hand-picking still happens on premium blocks) from February–April.
- Cellar hand roles: Winery-based work during vintage — heavier, and usually requires some prior experience.
Pay Rates
New Zealand’s minimum wage rose to NZD $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, and that is the legal floor for any orchard or vineyard role. In practice:
- Entry-level picking and general orchard labour: typically $23.95–$26/hour, sometimes topped up with piece-rate bonuses during peak harvest.
- Experienced pickers on piece rate: can earn well above minimum wage during a good harvest, though piece-rate income varies with fruit volume and weather.
- Packhouse, machinery operators, and supervisors: generally $26–$30+/hour depending on the role and employer.
- Vineyard leading hands and skilled pruners: can reach $28–$35/hour with experience.
The Honest Picture on Visas
This is the part most guides gloss over, so it’s worth being direct about it.
The RSE Scheme Does Not Apply to Nigerian Workers
New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme — the programme most associated with orchard and vineyard seasonal labour — is restricted to workers from a specific list of Pacific nations (including Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, and others). It is not open to applicants from Nigeria or most other countries, no matter how strong the application. Any site or agent telling you otherwise is not being straight with you.
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Is the Realistic Route
For non-RSE-eligible countries, the path into orchard or vineyard work is the AEWV, and it works like this:
- You need an actual job offer from a New Zealand employer that holds Immigration New Zealand (INZ) accreditation.
- Since 10 March 2025, employers are no longer required to pay a fixed “median wage” for AEWV roles — instead they must pay the genuine New Zealand market rate for the job, and it must be at or above minimum wage ($23.95/hour from April 2026).
- The employer must show they tried to find and train New Zealanders first (the labour market test), unless the role is on the Green List or otherwise exempt.
- Orchard and vineyard employers hiring through AEWV are usually looking to fill roles they cannot cover through RSE workers or the local labour pool — so timing and demonstrating genuine intent to work matters.
Seasonal Work Visa Options
Some growers also use short-term visitor or seasonal work arrangements for specific harvest windows, but these are employer-driven and vary case by case — always confirm the exact visa category directly with the employer or a licensed immigration adviser before making any plans, rather than relying on a job board’s description.
How to Apply
- Target the right season. Apple and kiwifruit growers recruit heaviest from January–March for the coming harvest; cherry growers recruit from October–November; vineyard pruning roles are advertised from April–June.
- Search for AEWV-accredited employers directly. Immigration New Zealand publishes a public register of accredited employers — cross-check any grower or labour contractor against it before applying.
- Apply directly to orchard and vineyard companies in Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Marlborough, Nelson, and Central Otago, or to reputable labour contractors who supply these regions.
- Be upfront about your visa situation in your application — employers offering AEWV sponsorship need to know from the start, since the accreditation and job check process takes time.
- Prepare for physical work. Picking and pruning involve long hours on your feet, often outdoors in all weather — being upfront about your fitness and stamina helps in interviews.