There’s plenty of work available in the kiwifruit industry, and now’s your chance to get paid to pick and pack our green and gold fuzzy fruits! If you’re a Kiwi or travelling in New Zealand with a valid work visa, now is the best time to get involved in a great industry.
Are you eligible to work in New Zealand? Working in the kiwifruit industry offers a rewarding seasonal experience.
Our green and gold fuzzy fruits are grown by 2,800 growers in eight regions around the country. The peak harvest season (March-June) requires around 22,000 staff on orchards and in packhouses. There are also year-round work opportunities.
On this page, you’ll find information on the current job opportunities, types of roles, and some of the essentials for working in New Zealand.
Some kiwifruit employers advertise their available jobs with us. Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for current opportunities and contact the employer directly.
We also have a list of kiwifruit employers you may be able to approach for work. The list is available in the resources below.
To be eligible to work in New Zealand, you must:
Harvesting fruit from the vines on orchards. If you’re after a short stint in the industry, picking is a great way to work outside, stay active and get social.
Lab technicians sample kiwifruit for readiness to harvest. Orchard samplers retrieve the samples from orchards. Sampling jobs usually start earlier than harvest, with options to work inside and outside. Working outside is a great way to stay active.
Packhouse roles include grading fruit and packing it into trays for storage and export. Packing and processing can be less physically demanding than picking, pruning, and thinning.
Pruning and thinning involve the removal of parts of the vines. This work requires some training and is a great job for those who are physically fit.
Explore career pathways in the kiwifruit industry and learn from over 70 real-life profiles of people working across diverse roles.
