An orchard business in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand needs fruit pickers for the apple, pear, and stone-fruit harvest. This is a full-time and seasonal role with early starts and longer hours when the fruit is ready to come off the trees. You will work outdoors in the orchard rows, moving steadily through the season, so this job suits fit, active people who enjoy outdoor work, a brisk pace, and the satisfaction of a good day’s picking in a beautiful growing region.
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The orchard pays the current New Zealand market average of about NZD 24 to NZD 28 per hour, with extra hours during the peak harvest. Some roles may offer piece rates on top for fast, accurate pickers. The listing did not state a fixed wage, so this range is a fair guide. Workers who pick quickly and carefully, or who take on team-leader tasks, earn toward the higher end and are first in line to return next season.
Company Overview
The employer runs established orchards across Hawke’s Bay, one of New Zealand’s main fruit-growing regions. It supplies fresh fruit to local and export markets and runs a busy, well-organised harvest each year. Supervisors train new pickers on quality and handling standards, so beginners get up to speed quickly and learn to pick without bruising the fruit. The work is outdoors among the trees, with a friendly, hard-working team and a clear daily target. New pickers work alongside experienced hands, and the orchard rewards good pace and care with higher earnings, return invitations each season, and the chance to step up into team-leader roles. The region is one of the sunniest in the country, and the harvest has a busy, energetic feel as the whole team works to get the fruit off the trees in good condition. New pickers are shown the right technique from day one, so you quickly learn to pick fast without bruising the fruit, and steady hands soon build the pace that earns the best returns.
Responsibilities
- Pick apples, pears, and stone fruit by hand to quality standards.
- Handle fruit carefully to avoid bruising and damage.
- Fill picking bags and empty them gently into bins.
- Move and stack full bins ready for collection.
- Use ladders and picking platforms safely in the rows.
- Sort out damaged or undersized fruit as you pick.
- Help with pruning, thinning, and orchard tidy-up between picks.
- Follow food-safety and orchard hygiene rules.
- Meet daily picking targets set by the supervisor.
Qualifications and Requirements
- You stay fit for picking, lifting, climbing ladders, and long days on your feet.
- You understand basic English instructions.
- You hold valid New Zealand work rights.
- You work at a steady, accurate pace and meet daily targets.
- Orchard or picking experience helps but is not required.
- You cope well with outdoor work in sun and changeable weather.
- You follow food-safety and hygiene rules.
- A driver’s licence helps for rural travel to the orchard.
Benefits and Perks
- Market-rate pay with extra hours and possible piece rates at harvest.
- Full-time and seasonal options to suit you.
- Training on picking, handling, and quality standards.
- Protective and sun-safe gear provided.
- Outdoor work in a scenic fruit-growing region.
- Friendly supervisors and clear daily targets.
- Return invitations each season for reliable pickers.
- Chances to step up into team-leader roles for higher pay.
How to Apply
Send your updated CV to the employer through the official job listing. Mention any orchard or picking experience, your availability for the harvest, and your start date. Active, reliable workers who keep a good pace stand out to this orchard team, so make your availability clear in your note. If you enjoy outdoor seasonal work and want the option to return year after year, this is a great fit with a friendly crew and a real chance to lead a picking team.
