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Jobs in Invercargill & Southland
Currently the Southland region is addressing skill shortages in agriculture, forestry, building and construction, food and hospitality, meat processing, viticulture and horticulture, and civil construction.
An agricultural powerhouse, Southland is home to the world’s largest raw milk processing plant along with New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter.
World-ranked national parks draw many tourists, low house prices attract residents and low fees draw students to the local Institute of Technology.
Southland is home to an estimated 2 per cent of the national population, provides 2.2 per cent of national employment and contributed 2.0 per cent to national GDP (year ended June 2018).
[Source: Statistics New Zealand data, 2018].
Southland seasonal work
A New Zealand Dairy farm with workers
Looking for more general employment information?
Tourism and agriculture are the key drivers of seasonal work in Southland.
The region has two national parks, including New Zealand’s largest (Fiordland) and Stewart Island (Rakiura). Tourism jobs are mostly adventure and outdoor focused, though hospitality is important everywhere.
Southland is another large and fertile region, and dairy, beef and sheep farming all need workers at various times. As well, there are grain harvests, the winter ski season, and some vineyards.
Southland seasonal work calendar
| When | What | Jobs | Find jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan - Feb | Blueberry Picking and Packing (Otautau) | 100 | Pick NZ |
| May - Sep | Forestry Planting (Western Southland) | 40 | forestrycareers.nz |
| Jan - Feb | Tulip Harvest (Southeast Southland) | 360 | Trademe Jobs |
| Jun - Jul | Tulip Bulbs (Southeast Southland) | 200 | Trademe Jobs |
| Apr - May | Crutching | 350 | NZ Shearing |
| Jun - Aug | Pre lamb | 175 | NZ Shearing |
| Jul - Nov | Fine wool & Crossbred Shear | 300 - 175 | NZ Shearing |
| Dec - Mar | Crossbred main shear | 800 | NZ Shearing |
| Nov - Mar | High Country Fencing | 25 | Trademe Jobs |
| Nov | Sheep -shearing hands | 200 | NZ Shearing |
| Dec | Sheep -shearing hands | 500 | NZ Shearing |
| Mar - May | Calf Rearer/Autumn Calving | 50 | NZ Farm source |
| Aug - Oct | Calf Rearer | 425 | NZ Farm Source |
| Nov | Dairy – Calf rearing | 450 | NZ Farm Source |
| Nov - Feb | Milk Harvester | 100 | NZ Farm Source |
| Dec | Milk Harvesting | 450 | NZ Farm Source |
| Jun - Sept | Meat Processing | 1,200 - 450 | Silverfern Farm |
| Oct - May | Meat Processing | 3,700 | Silverfern Farm |
| Dec | Meatworks – processing | 2,500 | Meat Your Career |
| Sept - May | Arable Machinery Operators | 370 - 550 | Hanzon Jobs |
| Nov | Grain Harvests | 350 | Trade Me Jobs |
| Dec | Grain Harvests | 450 | Trade Me Jobs |
| Sep - May | Hospitality and Tourism (Fiordland) | 150 - 300 | Trademe Jobs |
| Oct - Mar | Tourism Summer Activity Staff (Outdoor Guides, Biking, Attractions) - Fiordland | 350 | Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker Board |
| Oct - Mar | Tourism Boat Crew & Watersports - Fiordland | 150 | Seek, Trademe Jobs, Backpacker Board |
| Mar - Sep | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | 1,000 | Backpacker Board, Pick NZ |
| Year Round | Casual Event Staff | 100+ | Seek, Trademe Jobs, Backpacker Board |
| Year Round | Accommodation Staff (Hotels etc) | 5,000+ | Seek, Trademe Jobs, Backpacker Board |
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Job vacancies in Invercargill & Southland
Trade Me Jobs - lists a large number of jobs in Southland.
Seek - New Zealand's largest general job website.
Work and Income - jobs available in Southland 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
Venture Southland - the economic development agency for the Southland region.
Southland 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.
Organisations looking for volunteers often advertise positions on Seek Volunteer. Have a look to see if there is something available for you.