Are you thinking about going to work abroad for the summer of 2025? Would you like to pick apples in New Zealand? If so, this job might be perfect for you. New Zealand is a great place for foreigners to go fruit picking, especially apple picking, whether they’re looking for excitement, want to make extra money, or just like the idea of working outside.
Let’s talk about everything you need to know about apple-picking jobs in New Zealand, like how to apply, what to expect, and why it’s a popular choice for many international workers in 2025.
New Zealand’s apple picking is an easy job that travelers, especially backpackers and people on working holiday visas, love. This seasonal job lets you work for a short time before going on vacation, which lets you make foreign connections and see New Zealand’s beautiful rural areas.
It’s also easy to balance work and personal life when you work in a garden. Most jobs are hard on the body but not too stressed. Many people think it’s a great way to make money and experience New Zealand’s culture and countryside.
Details of Apple Picking Jobs in New Zealand with Visa Sponsorship
| Host Country | New Zealand |
| Job Type | Full-Time Permanent |
| Visa Sponsorship | Yes |
| Age Limit | 18 Years Above |
| Gender | Male / female |
| Education | High School / Secondary / Bachelor’s degree |
| Work Experience | Not Required |
| Who Can Apply | International Applicants |
| Salary | Average Salary $23 Per Hour |
Types of Visa for Seasonal Work in New Zealand
- Working Holiday Visa: Young people from many countries can get this visa. It lets you work and visit in New Zealand for up to 12 months (or 23 months if you are from the UK or Canada). People who want to do short-term jobs, like picking fruit, like the Working Holiday Visa.
- Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme: This program is made just for casual workers in fields like gardening. Pacific workers can get an RSE visa and come to New Zealand to work in orchards and wineries for up to seven months.
Read Also: Farm Work Job in New Zealand with Visa Sponsorship
Responsibilities
Harvesting Apples:
- Picking: When you pick apples from trees, be careful not to hurt them too much. If you need to, use ladders to get to higher trees.
Sorting Apples:
- Quality Control: When you pick the apples, or after, sort them by size, quality, and freshness. Sort the fruit into those that are ready to sell and those that aren’t.
Loading and Transporting Bins:
- Bin Handling: Put apples from boxes or bags into big bins. For more work to be done, move these bins to places for storage or packing.
Maintaining Safety Standards:
- Safety Protocols: Follow safety rules, such as wearing the right gear and doing things the right way when working at heights or in different types of weather.
Ensuring Quality:
- Ripe Selection: To keep the quality of the product high, only pick ripe apples and stay away from ones that are too ripe or too green.
Caring for Equipment:
- Maintenance: Regular repair is the best way to keep tools like ladders, picking bags, and clippers in good shape.
Assisting with Other Orchard Tasks:
- Additional Duties: If you’re asked, help with other orchard chores like cleaning, moving, or pruning.
Requirements
- Physical Fitness: Apple picking requires a lot of standing, bending, and lifting for long periods of time.
- Working Holiday Visa or Seasonal Work Visa: you need the right visa, either a Working Holiday Visa or a Seasonal Work Visa.
- Basic English Skills: Fluency in English isn’t always necessary, but you should be able to communicate clearly enough to follow directions and talk to bosses and coworkers.
- Age Requirements: Many companies want to hire people who are at least 18 years old.
- Ability to Work Long Hours: Picking apples usually means working long shifts, which can start early in the morning and go on until late in the afternoon, depending on the weather and the amount of work that needs to be done.
- Teamwork Skills: Working in an orchard means a lot of teamwork, so it’s important to be able to get along with others.
- Work Hours Are Flexible: The picking season can change depending on the weather, so work hours can change.
- Experience (Optional): You don’t have to have experience to do this job, but it can be helpful if you have done work on a farm or picked fruit before.
Benefits
Flexible Work for Travelers:
- Seasonal Employment: Apple picking is a summer job that’s great for people who are off work. You can work for a while and then take some time off to see New Zealand.
No Previous Experience Required:
- Accessibility: There are no formal requirements or training needed for these jobs, so a lot of people can apply.
Opportunity to Earn Good Money:
- Earnings: A lot of the time, pay is based on how much fruit is picked or by the hour. If you work hard and are quick and good at what you do, you can make a good living.
Meet People from Around the World:
- Diverse Workforce: People come from all over the world to pick apples, which is a great way to meet and talk to people from other cultures.
Experience Rural New Zealand:
- Scenic Work Environment: You can work in some of New Zealand’s most beautiful rural places and get a unique view of the country’s natural beauty.
Accommodation Provided:
- Housing: Many orchards have places to stay on-site or can help you find housing nearby, which makes it easy to get settled.
Work-Life Balance:
- Physical Activity: Even though the work is hard on the body, there are often breaks and time off, which lets people live a healthy life.
Visa Sponsorship Opportunities:
- RSE Scheme: As part of the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) program, some companies may help eligible workers get visas.
Opportunity for Skill Development:
- Skill Building: Learn useful skills like how to work with others, handle your time well, and pay close attention to details. These skills can help you get jobs in the future.
Apple Picking Salary in New Zealand
The average gross pay for a fruit picker in New Zealand is $48,151 a year, which is about $23 an hour.
How to Apply
Conclusion:
Apple-picking jobs in New Zealand are a one-of-a-kind chance to work abroad in the summer of 2024. These jobs are great for travelers and backpackers because they offer visa sponsorship, don’t require training, and let you see New Zealand’s beautiful countryside. To start your adventure in New Zealand, you need to apply through the right routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are apple-picking jobs in New Zealand?
Apple-picking jobs involve harvesting apples from orchards, sorting them by quality, loading them into bins, and maintaining safety and equipment. These are seasonal roles ideal for travelers and backpackers.
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What are the responsibilities of an apple picker in New Zealand?
Responsibilities include picking apples carefully, sorting them by size and quality, loading and transporting bins, maintaining safety standards, ensuring ripe selection, caring for equipment, and assisting with other orchard tasks.
