Are you looking for a straightforward way to live and work in New Zealand Citrus Picking Jobs in New Zealand July 2025 Jobs involving fruit picking and packaging, especially those related to citrus harvesting, are among the easiest for foreigners to find. No prior experience or credentials are required for these opportunities, which are open to individuals from all countries and genders. Are you interested in living and working in New Zealand? There is no easier way to select and pack fruit. Candidates of any nationality are accepted, and there is no gender discrimination. New Zealand harvests oranges and other citrus fruits from September to April. On paper, your employment appears to be seasonal, but in reality, you are required to work throughout the year.
New Zealand Citrus Picking Jobs
- Citrus Packer
- New Zealand is the job region.
- Hiring number: 25 F/M
- Knowledge needed: Not stated
- Minimum Experience: Not required
- Free visa: Indeed
- Free ticket: Indeed
- Yes, free health insurance
- No free food
- Free lodging is contingent on the employer.
- Age requirement: 18 years old
- Maximum age: Not stated
Qualifications
- Be eighteen years of age or older.
- Have a job offer from an organization that has obtained RSE certification.
- Be morally pure and in excellent health (a police check and medical certificate may be necessary).
- One must be from a qualifying Pacific country (such as Fiji, Tonga, or Samoa) or, if from another country, obtain approval via a specific arrangement.
- May stay for a maximum of eleven months or up to seven months.
- Documents Needed:
- A valid passport and a job offer letter from RSE
- Evidence of accommodations
Plans for your trip, a return ticket, or proof of your financial stability for one Police certificate (for stays more than 24 months)
On average Pay
Fruit pickers may get hourly wages or compensation based on the quantity of fruits they have collected, depending on their employer. Their experience, location, duty schedule, employer’s needs, pay scale, and other factors all affect their remuneration. The normal pay rate for casual farmed labor in New Zealand is NZD 21.6 per hour, which is the minimum hourly salary for a citrus picker. However, if your employer bases your income on the amount of citrus fruits you harvest, you will be paid more for working with passion.
NZD 21.6 per hour + overtime is the anticipated pay
Oranges and other citrus fruits are gathered in New Zealand throughout a long season that lasts eight months: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, and April. Despite being categorized as “seasonal,” the ongoing harvesting of different fruits and areas ensures year-round work possibilities. Agricultural hubs like Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury offer job opportunities throughout their peak harvest season, which spans from April to September. By shifting to other fruit-picking fruit-picking opportunities, such as the cherry season that starts in October, even when citrus harvesting begins to slow down, a steady workload can be maintained throughout the year. A wide variety of crops, including apples, cherries, oranges, avocados, zucchini, and sweet potatoes, are produced in New Zealand’s rich geography, creating numerous job opportunities on many farms.
Qualifications for occupations involving citrus picking
- According to the job advertisement, the qualifications are simple and direct
- There are no minimal credentials needed. Those with a high school diploma, a degree, or a diploma are eligible to apply.
- It doesn’t need any previous experience.
- Included are supporting documents such as a police clearance certificate, a job sponsor letter, and a resume.
- A current work permit, foreign work permit, seasonal worker permit, or working vacation permit
- Visa for students or a comparable visa.
- Applications are accepted from people of all nationalities.
Advantages of the job
Legal Employment with Visa Sponsorship: Many citrus farms in New Zealand use visa-supported schemes, such as the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. These initiatives provide legitimate, contract-based work to overseas pickers. Some farms give piece-rate incentives for strong production during peak harvest seasons, and citrus pickers may make between NZD 23 and NZD 30 per hour. Hourly or piece-rate compensation may be used to provide this consistent revenue.
- No Prior Education or experience is required: These entry-level jobs are suitable for foreign nationals without professional experience or credentials.
- Free or Subsidized Housing: Many firms provide free or subsidized housing on-site, which lowers living costs and ensures proximity to work locations.
- Healthy Outdoor Work Environment: Picking citrus involves working outside in fresh air, which may improve mental and physical health while reducing stress associated with indoor labor.
- Seasonal Employment with Visa Validity: Jobs in citrus harvesting typically last six to seven months, providing workers with the opportunity to travel, earn money, and experience New Zealand before, during, and after their work term.
- Meal and Transportation Support: To encourage an economical way of life, several farms provide their staff free transportation to the orchard and group cooking services or inexpensive meals.
- Quick Hiring and Easy Job Process: These jobs usually have a quick hiring procedure and a quick application turnover, so you may start working right away without having to wait around for long periods or complete complicated tests.
- RSE Work Rights and safeguards: Government programs provide employees access to support services, minimum pay guarantees, labor safeguards, and suitable housing requirements.
- Multinational Work atmosphere Working alongside people from other nations creates a socially and culturally stimulating atmosphere.
- Possibility of Contract Renewal or Invitations to Return: Many citrus pickers receive invitations to return for future seasons, which fosters a sense of familiarity with the role and the potential for ongoing employment.
- Route to Other Agricultural Jobs: After a citrus harvesting contract, you could be qualified for other seasonal jobs that might prolong your stay, such as packhouse labour, grapes, apples, or kiwifruit.
- Fair Wages & On-Time Payments: New Zealand’s stringent labour rules ensure that even seasonal overseas workers get fair and on-time compensation.
- Explore the Charm of New Zealand’s Regions: Citrus farms are often situated in scenic areas such as Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, or Northland, providing workers with the opportunity to enjoy weekend getaways and rural scenery.
- Being a member of New Zealand’s sustainable agriculture sector and helping to produce nutritious, export-quality fruits makes one feel proud to contribute to food production.
Average Salary: Fruit farmers are paid either on an hourly basis or according to the number of fruits they have picked, depending on the company. They are also paid according to their region, level of expertise, work schedule, employer’s demands, and pay scale. According to the Standard pay rate for casual agricultural employment, a citrus picker in New Zealand earns at least NZD 21.60 per hour. However, if your company pays you according to the number of citrus fruits you choose, working with passion leads to a better income.
Increase Your Stay Possibility of a Working Holiday Visa
Working on a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa is another popular way to get a job picking citrus (or any other fruit) or harvesting it. With this visa, many backpackers may work picking fruit to cover the costs of their vacation while taking in New Zealand’s breathtakingly gorgeous farms and scenery. This visa is more popular than a work visa. Working holiday visa holders who are engaged as seasonal workers in regional New Zealand are eligible to renew their visa for the following year. As a result, seasonal work allows you to stay in the region and receive a slight rise in income. However, the New Zealand government enforces several laws and guidelines, including the adoption of a strict and technical definition of regional New Zealand and the need for seasonal labor to last at least three months.
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Commonly Asked Questions
How do jobs harvesting citrus look in New Zealand
Harvesting oranges, lemons, and mandarins by hand is a part of citrus picking occupations. Work is physically demanding, seasonal, and often found in areas such as the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and Northland.
What time of day is ideal for collecting citrus
May through September is usually when citrus is picked. For picking and packaging fruit, orchards require the most significant number of staff at this time of year.
Does harvesting citrus need experience
Physical fitness is beneficial, but experience is not necessary. In most cases, employers provide on-the-job training. Usually, you need to be willing to work in remote regions and have a valid work visa.
How to Apply for Jobs in New Zealand Picking Citrus
Citrus-picking jobs in New Zealand offer a fantastic opportunity for individuals to gain international work experience, receive competitive pay, and experience the natural beauty of the country. Since these positions require no formal education or experience, they’re ideal for students, seasonal workers, and individuals seeking to start anew overseas. Sponsorship for visas is also offered. The agricultural regions of the largest or most significant New Zealand territories, such as Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland, provide year-round employment opportunities. The biggest harvest season in these regions is between April and September. However, you may move to New Zealand at the end of September or the end of the harvest season if your farm—let’s say, a citrus fruit or wheat farm—is not in the harvest. The reason for this is because from October to the end of July, it is cherry season there! As a result, as soon as one crop in a region finishes, another one begins to grow elsewhere. In this manner, there is always work to be had harvesting fruit in New Zealand Any fruit, including apples, oranges, cherries, avocados, zucchini, sweet potatoes and more, may be found in the lush and bountiful country of New Zealand. You may thus find work on hundreds of farms. For having no experience or unique credentials, you get a tone of amazing benefits. Let’s learn more about the 2025 Citrus Picking Jobs in New Zealand. Because of the long harvesting seasons, variety of fruit-picking options, and flexibility to move between locations, you may find steady work all year round. Whether you are seeking a Seasonal Work Visa or using a Working Holiday Visa, these jobs offer both cash remuneration and the opportunity to participate in a truly unique cultural experience.