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:
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 | Summer | Autumn | Winter | |
September, Octover, November | December, January, February | March, April, May | 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 |
Tasman / Nelson | Low | High | High | Medium |
Marlborough | Medium | Medium | Low | High |
West Coast | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
Canterbury | Low | Low | Medium | Medium |
Otago | Medium | High | Medium | Low |
Southland | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |