Want to live and work in New Zealand? To pick and pack fruit is the easiest job there is. Anyone from any country can apply, and there is no difference between men and women. In New Zealand, citrus fruits like oranges are picked from September to April. You can also pick them in October, November, December, January, February, and March. It only looks like your job is seasonal on paper: You really do have to work all year.
In the rural areas of New Zealand’s largest cities, such as Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, you can find work all year long. From April to September is the best time to harvest in these states. You can move to New Zealand at the end of September or the end of the harvest season if your farm is not in harvest season, like a citrus fruit or wheat farm. This is because it’s cherry season there from October to the end of summer! Since this is the case, once a harvest stops in one area, it starts all over again somewhere else. This way, New Zealand will always have work picking fruit!
Apples, Oranges, Cherries, Avocados, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes, and so on could all be grown in New Zealand’s rich and fertile land. That means there are a lot of farms that will hire you. You don’t need any training or special skills, and in return, you get a lot of great benefits. Let’s find out more about the jobs that will pay you to pick citrus fruits in New Zealand in 2025:
Key Points:
- Job title: Citrus Packer.
- Job Region: New Zealand.
- No.of hirings: 25 F/M
- Knowledge required: Not specified
- Minimum Experience: Not needed
- Free visa: Yes
- Free ticket: Yes
- Free medical insurance: Yes
- Free food: No
- Free Accommodation: Depends upon the employer
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Maximum age: Not specified
- Expected salary: NZD $21.6 per hour plus overtime
Requirements for Visa Sponsorship Citrus Picking Jobs in New Zealand:
The ad for the job says the requirements are simple and clear:
- You don’t have to meet any basic requirements. Anybody from high school to someone with a degree or diploma can apply.
- You don’t need any training.
- supporting papers like a CV, a letter from a job backer, a police clearance certificate, and so on.
- There must be a valid work visa, seasonal worker visa, working holiday visa, international student visa, or other type of visa.
- Anyone from any country can apply.
Check Also: Visa Sponsorship Receptionist Jobs in New Zealand – Apply Today
Benefits of Visa Sponsorship Citrus Picking Jobs:
- Legal Work Authorization: If someone sponsors your visa, you can legally work in New Zealand and get all of your worker rights and benefits.
- Strong Demand for Jobs: Citrus farms hire summer workers all the time, so there are always jobs for foreigners.
- Competitive Wages: In New Zealand, citrus pickers get paid a fair hourly wage, and they often get the chance to make more money through productivity prizes.
- Simple Entry Requirements: Most of the time, these jobs don’t require any formal training, so people with little or no experience can apply.
- Help with Finding a Place to Live: Many companies offer or help workers find affordable housing on-site or nearby.
- Health and Safety Protections: New Zealand’s agricultural industry has strict health and safety laws that make sure workers are safe.
- Holidays and time off: New Zealand law says that sponsored workers have the right to annual leave and state holidays.
- Work in Beautiful Places: Citrus farms are often found in beautiful places like Northland, Gisborne, and Bay of Plenty, where the scenery is stunning.
- Physical Activity and Fresh Air: Your job requires you to be busy and outside, which can be good for your body and mind.
- Chance to Meet People: Working with locals and other foreign workers is a great way to make friends and learn about other cultures.
- Way to Other Jobs: Working during the summer in New Zealand can help you get other jobs in agriculture or gardening.
- Possible Way to Get Residency: For some workers, doing the same seasonal work or working for approved companies over and over again can help them get residency.
- Help with Documentation from Employers: Employers often help with visa paperwork, travel tips, and starting a new job, which makes moving easier.
- Savings Potential: You can save a lot of your earnings if you live in a rural place where housing is free and costs of living are low.
- Chance to See New Zealand: When you have time off, you can visit New Zealand’s beaches, mountains, and vacation spots, which will make the experience unforgettable.
Average Salary:
Depending on the company, fruit pickers can be paid either by the hour or by the amount of fruits they pick. They are also paid based on their experience, where they work, the hours they work, their boss’s needs, the payment scale, and other factors. There is a standard pay rate for casual farming work that says the least a Citrus Picker can make in New Zealand is NZD $21.6 an hour. If, on the other hand, your pay is based on how many citrus fruits you pick, working hard will earn you more money.
Seasonal Visa Sponsorship Citrus Picking Jobs in New Zealand:
Along with a work visa, a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa is another common way to get a job picking citrus or any other fruit. This visa lets many backpackers do fruit picking jobs to pay for their trip while also enjoying New Zealand’s stunningly beautiful landscapes and farms. People who are seasonal workers in regional New Zealand and have a working holiday visa can continue their visa for another year if they want to keep working there. So, summer work lets you stay and make a little extra money. There are, however, some rules and laws that must be followed. For example, the New Zealand Government has a very specific and technical meaning of “regional New Zealand,” and seasonal work must last at least three months.
How to apply for Visa Sponsorship Citrus Picking Jobs in New Zealand?
You can sign up for an account on any website that helps people find jobs (SEEK.com.nz is the most well-known), log in, and send your CV to apply. Click on the link below to apply for this job right on the ad’s website:
More Visa-sponsored Harvesting Jobs in New Zealand:
Click here to see more picking, packing, and gathering jobs in Australia that will pay for your visa:
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does a citrus picker do in New Zealand?
A citrus picker harvests oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, and other citrus fruits by hand or with tools, ensuring the fruit is picked carefully to avoid damage. Tasks also include sorting, packing, and sometimes general farm work.
Do I need experience to apply?
No prior experience is usually required, but physical fitness and the ability to work long hours outdoors are important. Some employers may prefer candidates with previous farm or harvest work experience.
What skills are required for a Fruit Picker?
The role of a fruitpicker demands proficiency in meticulous attention to detail, physical stamina, and team collaboration as core skills, thus enabling professional growth in the field and bolstering one’s career progression.
