New Zealand Seasonal Jobs with Visa Sponsorship 2025: Salary $29 Per Hour | Food & Accommodation Free

New Zealand Seasonal Jobs 20750 positions available for foreign workers of all nationalities: New Zealand Recognized Seasonal Employer Limited Visa. I will discuss how to get a New Zealand work permit visa in 10 days. I will also discuss how to get jobs in New Zealand, both skilled and unskilled. Salary: $29 per hour.

New Zealand seasonal work visa allows overseas workers to work in the horticulture and viticulture industries while experiencing life in New Zealand. In this article, I’ll provide a complete guide on the New Zealand seasonal work visa, including everything you need to know about eligibility, registered employers, job positions available, how to find jobs, and visa processing times and costs.

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Details of Seasonal Jobs in New Zealand for Foreigners

Why Choose New Zealand for Seasonal Work?

Working in New Zealand doesn’t only mean a type of work to do. It has a very great cultural heritage as well as natural resource importance, which makes it famous all over the world.

Beautiful scenery, high requirements for temporary employees during the harvest period, and an opportunity to get a job in various fields made this country attractive to temporary foreign workers all over the world.

Seasonal work lets you experience the festive season, interact with people from other parts of the world, and be paid well while enjoying the natural environment.

Types of Seasonal Jobs in New Zealand

New Zealand has lots of interesting seasonal employment opportunities for foreigners, including in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, accommodation, and tourism ventures. These positions also create employment for nationals but also bring in foreign labour in search of short-term work and a visa invitation.

Temporally based work is mostly provided when there is a need to hire an extra worker during specific times of the year. Here are details of the main forms of employment that are evident in New Zealand during the various seasons.

1. Horticulture Jobs

Horticulture is one of the largest sources of seasonal employment in New Zealand, particularly due to the abundance of fruit orchards and vegetable farms across the country.

• Fruit Picking and Harvesting: Seasonal workers are needed to pick a variety of fruits such as apples, kiwifruits, berries, and cherries. Harvesting usually involves working outdoors and requires physical stamina.

• Pruning and Maintenance: Outside of harvest season, many farms require workers to prune trees, which helps prepare them for future growth. This task is essential to maintain the health and productivity of the plants.

• Packing and Sorting: After the harvest, fruit and vegetables are sorted, packed, and prepared for distribution. This work is typically done in packing houses and may involve operating machinery or manual sorting.

Peak Season: Most horticulture work takes place during the summer and autumn months (December to May) when fruits are ripe and ready for harvest.

2. Viticulture Jobs

Seasonal employment in viticulture is used widely in New Zealand wine production centres, such as Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. These jobs are focused on grape growing and wine production:

• Grape Harvesting: Harvesting grapes is a major seasonal task, usually done by hand. Workers carefully pick grapes at the right stage of ripeness, which is crucial for wine quality.

• Vineyard Maintenance: Outside of the harvest season, workers help with pruning, tying vines, and general vineyard upkeep. This helps ensure healthy vines for future harvests.

• Wine Processing and Cellar Work: During and after the harvest, additional workers assist in the processing and fermenting stages, cleaning tanks, and performing cellar maintenance tasks.

Peak Season: The grape harvest season typically occurs in late summer to early autumn (March to May), though vineyard maintenance occurs year-round.

3. Dairy and Livestock Farming

New Zealand is a major player in the dairy industry, and livestock farming also requires seasonal workers to assist with the demanding tasks on farms:

• Milking: Many dairy farms need workers to assist with the milking process, which involves early morning and late afternoon shifts. Workers are also responsible for ensuring cleanliness and quality control.

• Feeding and Herding: Feeding, herding, and general animal care are important responsibilities on livestock farms. Workers help ensure that cattle, sheep, and other animals are healthy and well-fed.

• Calving and Lambing Season Support: During spring, farms require extra help with calving and lambing, as well as monitoring the health of newborn animals and their mothers.

Peak Season: Dairy work is typically busiest during the spring months (August to October) when calving and lambing seasons occur.

4. Hospitality and Tourism

New Zealand’s scenic beauty and adventure tourism industry attract millions of visitors each year, creating a demand for seasonal workers in hospitality:

• Housekeeping and Maintenance: Resorts, lodges, and hotels hire seasonal staff to handle housekeeping duties, ensuring guest rooms and facilities are clean and welcoming.

• Food and Beverage Service: Restaurants, cafes, and bars located in tourist hotspots need additional staff during peak tourism seasons. Positions include waitstaff, bartenders, and kitchen hands.

• Tour Guides and Adventure Instructors: In places like Queenstown and Rotorua, tour companies and adventure parks hire seasonal guides and instructors for activities such as bungee jumping, jet boating, and guided nature walks.

Peak Season: The tourism sector generally requires seasonal staff during the summer months (December to February) and during the winter ski season (June to August) in alpine regions.

5. Fishing and Seafood Processing

New Zealand’s fishing industry is another source of seasonal employment, especially in coastal areas where seafood is processed and exported:

• Fishing Crew: Fishing boats hire seasonal crew members to work on fishing vessels, handling tasks such as netting, hauling, and sorting fish. This work can be demanding and is often conducted in varying weather conditions.

• Seafood Processing: Once the catch is brought to shore, workers in seafood processing facilities prepare the fish and shellfish for export. This includes tasks like cleaning, sorting, and packing seafood.

Peak Season: The fishing industry generally sees peak activity during summer months when the seas are calmer, but it varies depending on fish species and specific fishing regulations.

6. Forestry

Forestry is an important industry in New Zealand, and seasonal workers are often hired for roles that involve the planting, maintenance, and harvesting of trees in commercial forests:

• Tree Planting and Maintenance: Tree planting takes place during the winter months (June to August) when soil conditions are optimal. Workers may also help with weed control and pest management.
• Timber Harvesting and Processing: Skilled labour is required for harvesting mature trees, operating machinery, and preparing logs for transport and processing.

Peak Season: Tree planting is done in winter, while harvesting usually occurs in drier months (summer) when conditions allow for heavy machinery use.

7. Beekeeping and Honey Production

New Zealand is known for its high-quality honey, especially Manuka honey, and the beekeeping industry requires seasonal workers to assist during peak honey production times:

• Hive Maintenance and Bee Care: Beekeepers monitor and care for hives, ensuring bees are healthy and productive. This may involve checking hives, feeding bees, and inspecting for pests.

• Honey Extraction and Processing: After the honey is harvested, it’s extracted and processed for sale. Seasonal workers assist with extracting, bottling, and packaging honey products.

Peak Season: Honey production work typically peaks in the summer months (December to March), when flowers are abundant, and bees are actively producing honey.

8. Construction and Infrastructure Development

With a growing population and increasing demand for infrastructure, New Zealand’s construction industry frequently needs additional hands for seasonal projects:

• Labouring and Site Preparation: Laborers help with a range of construction tasks, from preparing sites to moving materials. This role requires physical strength and safety awareness.

• Skilled Trade Work: During busy periods, skilled workers in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical trades are in high demand to work on infrastructure projects and residential developments.

Peak Season: Construction work often peaks in the summer and autumn (December to April) when weather conditions are favourable for outdoor projects.

Requirements for Seasonal Jobs with Visa Sponsorship

• Age: Applicants must generally be at least 18 years old.

• Physical fitness: Many jobs are physically demanding, especially in agriculture and horticulture, and may require lifting or extended hours outdoors.

• English skills: Although fluency is not mandatory, basic English communication skills help interact with supervisors and colleagues.

• Previous work experience: While some employers prefer candidates with related experience, it’s not always necessary for entry-level roles. Showing a positive attitude and readiness to work is often enough.

Documents Required

• Passport Copy: Photocopy of passport that is clear, and valid, with the name, address and duration of the valid passport.

• CV/Resume: Updated curriculum vitae or resume that includes your education, skills, achievements in the workplace and other certifications.

• Valid Visa: If you have one put a copy of your current visa or you can attach sponsorship of visa as proof.

• Online Application: Fill out the forms and provide the details that are asked through the official New Zealand immigration site or at the hiring system of the company.

• Academic Curriculum/Qualifications: certified true copies of your transcript as well as any other certificate that will attest to your suitability for the position.

• Health Certificate: A medical report from a doctor certifying that you are fit to work and reside in New Zealand.

Salary and Benefits of Seasonal Jobs

Seasonal work in New Zealand generally pays well, especially when compared to the cost of living in rural areas. Here’s what to expect in terms of compensation:

• Hourly Pay: Most seasonal jobs pay between $22 and $29 per hour. With the opportunity for overtime, earnings can increase, especially during peak seasons.

• Overtime Pay: Many roles, especially in agriculture and viticulture, allow for overtime work, which can pay time and a half or even double, depending on labour laws and agreements.

• Additional Benefits: Some employers provide housing assistance, meal subsidies, or transport to job sites, especially in more remote areas.

• Bonuses for Performance: Certain jobs, such as fruit picking, may offer performance bonuses based on the amount harvested.

Application Process for Seasonal Jobs in New Zealand

• Find Job Openings First, start by looking for seasonal job listings. New Zealand has many types of seasonal work, such as:

• Check Visa Requirements: If you’re from outside New Zealand, you’ll need a visa to work there.

• Prepare Your CV and Cover Letter: A strong CV (resume) and cover letter make a good impression on employers.

• Submit Your Application: Once your CV and cover letter are ready, you can start applying online.

• Follow-up: Following the submission of an application it is advisable to follow up with the employer in one way or the other. After a week, it is reasonable to write an email and check whether they received your application, and, in general, you are interested in this vacancy.

• Prepare for the Interview: If you’re selected, the next step is usually an interview. Here’s how to get ready:

Helpful Websites:

• Seek.co.nz – One of New Zealand’s largest job boards.

• Indeed.co.nz – Lists various seasonal jobs across industries.

• BackpackerBoard.co.nz – Aimed at travellers, with many seasonal and short-term job listings.

• New Kiwis – Connects migrants and international workers with employers.