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Jobs in Napier, Hastings & Hawke's Bay
Hawkes Bay is famous for warm settled weather, a varied coastline and beaches, and thousands of acres of farmland, orchards and vineyards.
Hawke’s Bay is a large area with around 350km of coastline hugging the Pacific Ocean on the south-eastern side of the North Island.
Napier, built in a distinctive art deco style, adjoins Hastings, the region’s agricultural service hub.
More than 81,000 people live in the Hastings District, and more than 62,000 in the ‘twin’ city of Napier about 18km away
[Source: Statistics New Zealand data, 2018].
Hawkes Bay Seasonal Work
(c) Willowford Alma Alta
Looking for more general employment information?
Hawke’s Bay is known as the “fruitbowl of New Zealand”, with apples and stone fruit dominating its agricultural industry.
In recent decades, the Bay has become one of the country’s premier wine-growing nations.
Hastings, with a population of over 81,000 people, is the main agricultural hub, but there are opportunities in horticulture, viticulture, and sheep & cattle farming across the region, all requiring workers.
Hawkes Bay Seasonal Calendar.
| When | What | Jobs | Find Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan - April | Sweetcorn picking and packing | 300+ | Pick NZ |
| Jan - May | Pumpkin harvesting | 100+ | Pick NZ |
| October - April | Apple and Pear harvest & packing, thinning | 10,000 | Pick NZ |
| March | Olive harvesting | 500 | Pick NZ |
| May - June | Contract Milking | 1,000 | NZ Farm source , Go Dairy |
| June - August (also year round) | Vine Harvest/Maintenance Worker | 200 | Pick NZ |
| June - September | Forestry - Planting | 1,000 | Forestry Careers |
| July - December | Asparagus harvesting | 300 | Pick NZ |
| November - March | Hospitality (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, etc.) | 1,500 | Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board |
| November - March | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | 100+ | Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board |
| November - April | Pea harvesting | 100+ | Pick NZ |
| November - May | Stone fruit harvest + packing | 10,000 | Pick NZ |
| November - May | Berry harvest + packing | 10,000 | Pick NZ |
| Year round | Dairy Farm Assistant | 2,000 | NZ Farm source , Trade Me Jobs |
| Year round | Forestry - Harvesting, Processing | 1,000 | Forestry Careers |
| Year round | Meatworks – processing | 3,000 | Meat Your Career |
| Year round | Accommodation Staff | 500+ | Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board |
Job vacancies in the Hawke's Bay region
Trade Me Jobs - lists a large number of jobs in Hawke's Bay.
Seek - New Zealand's largest general job website.
Work and Income - jobs available in Hawke's Bay for Job Seekers.
careers.govt.nz - lists recruitment companies in New Zealand.
Newspapers
Most local newspapers publish jobs available in the area in the Situations Vacant column.
Job search help
Tips for recent migrants | careers.govt.nz - a free service to assist with your job search and prepare you for employment in the local labour market.
Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) - a government department helping to find employment for residents or those with a valid work permit.
Business networking organisations
Business Hawke's Bay - the economic development agency for the Hawke's Bay region.
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce - supports local businesses by offering advice, consultancy, training and networking opportunities.
Venus Network- a business network for women
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to gain work experience, meet new people, learn about your community, and improve your English skills.
Volunteering Hawke's Bay matches volunteers looking for volunteering roles with organisations looking for specific skills, and offers free to low-cost training for volunteers.