A lot of backpackers choose to work in farms during their gap year in New Zealand. Although this is not by a long shot, the only option, it is worth taking the time to look into this type of work in depth.
The New Zealand horticulture industry is huge, exporting fruits, vegetables, dairy, meant and wine around the world. Every year farmers needs thousand of helping hands to help them with various tasks around the farm. Common jobs includes:
- Pruning fruit trees and vines
- Sorting harvested fruits and vegetables
- Packing fruits and vegetables
- Thinning fruits
- Harvesting fruit and vegetables
- Planting vegetables
- Maintaining crops
- Tractor driving
- Milking assistant
- Fence maintenance
What do you get out of Farmwork?
- For once, you will be paid. Aside from WWOOFing, most farm will be paying wages, it can be a fixed salary by the week, the hour or a commission that will be based on your productivity.
- Many farms will also offer accommodation to their worker. Some are more than decent and some are a bit dated, it is kind of a gamble every time.
- You will also enjoy a lifestyle out of the city. Nowadays we spend so much time indoor that working outdoor becomes luxury.
- Finally, you will be making friends for life. Through hard labor, camaraderie grows and you will bond with coworkers from all side of the world around a well deserved homemade meal at the end of the day.
What are the picking seasons in New Zealand?
We have made the chart below to help you understand when the busiest seasons are in each areas of New Zealand. As a main rule, the peak months would be November to June but there is usually work all around the year, especially in dairy farms.
Jobs are available for any type of backpacker, skilled and unskilled, you will just need to be reliable and fit as some jobs are quite physically demanding.
Job demand in the New Zealand farming industry
Spring
September, October, November
Summer
December, January, February
Autumn
March, April, May
Winter
June, July, August
Northland
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Auckland
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Waikato
Medium
High
Low
Low
Bay Of Plenty
High
High
High
High
Gisborne
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
Taranaki
Medium
Medium
Low
Low
Whanganui / Manawatu
Low
Medium
Low
Low
Hawkes Bay
High
High
High
Medium
Wellington
Low
Low
Low
Medium
Marlborough
Medium
Medium
Low
High
Tasman / Nelson
Low
High
High
Medium
West Coast
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low
Otago
Medium
High
Medium
Low
Canterbury
Low
Low
Medium
Medium
Southland
Medium
Medium
Medium
Low