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Working Holidays
Seasonal work opportunities in New Zealand
Travelling with a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is an easy low-cost way to see more of New Zealand, meet more people, and have more fun.
New Zealand's horticulture and tourism industries have many casual roles available.
Work is available all across New Zealand, all year round. And for most roles, experience is not required. While on-site accommodation is available in some areas.
Advantages of a Working Holiday Visa:
- Stay for longer - With a WHV you can stay for longer than with a standard visitor visa, meet other travellers and local people.
- Meet more people
- Stretch your budget
- Leave and return
- Start working straight away
- See more of New Zealand, and then perhaps use your earnings to see more of the Pacific – and then do it again - because repeat entry to New Zealand is a feature of Working Holiday visas.
Check the Seasonal Work Calendar
With eight main horticulture regions around the country, you can follow the seasons, stretch your budget, and enjoy some of the best New Zealand has to offer.
Experience New Zealand with a working holiday visa
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What you need to need to work
- The visa - If you are not a current holder of a Working Holiday Visa then you must first apply. If you are current holder then you may plan to work. You can find out more about the visa at Immigration New Zealand's website.
- A New Zealand bank account - With some banks you can apply for and open a NZ bank account before you arrive. Find out how on this helpful page from the NZ Pocket Guide.
- An IRD (tax) number - The application process is explained simply and clearly here.
Visa information
Apply for a Working Holiday Visa
If you do not have a current Working Holiday Visa, you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa on Immigration New Zealand's website.
Seasonal job sites to explore
Horticulture/Viticulture
Find seasonal work across NZ | PickNZ
Warehouse, fruit packing & vineyard jobs |Backpackerboard
Tourism
Jobs in hospitality and tourism | Go with Tourism
FIFA Women's World Cup is coming July and August 2023
Don't miss your chance to be part of this big event. Jobs in hospitality and tourism will be in high demand.
Know your rights at work
New Zealand has laws that help keep workplaces fair. It is important to understand the rules, and your rights and responsibilities.
Minimum rights of employees | Employment New Zealand
Report your employer | Employment New Zealand
Check the Seasonal Work Calendar
All Year Round
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year round | Oyster Farming | Northland | 100 | |
| All year round | Mussel Farming | Northland | 100 | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Northland | 250+ | Pick NZ |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Northland | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Tourism Attractions Staff | Auckland | 1000 | |
| All year round | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc) | Auckland | 10,000+ | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff (Hotels etc) | Auckland | 10,000+ | |
| All year round | Causal Event Staff | Auckland | 2500+ | |
| All year round | Potato harvesting | Auckland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| All year round | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc) | Waikato | 5000+ | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff (Hotels etc) | Waikato | 5000+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Waikato | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Mussel Farming | Waikato | TBC | |
| All year round | Oyster Farming | Waikato | TBC | |
| All year round | Potato harvesting | Waikato | TBC | Pick NZ |
| All year round | Casual Event Staff | Waikato | 2500+ | |
| All year round | Forestry - Harvesting, Processing | Bay of Plenty | 1700 | Forestry Careers |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Bay of Plenty | 2500+ | |
| All year round | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc.) | Bay of Plenty | 3000+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Bay of Plenty | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Dairy Farm Assistant | Hawkes Bay | 2000 | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Hawkes Bay | 3000 | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Hawkes Bay | 500+ | |
| All year round | Forestry - Harvesting, Processing | Hawkes Bay | TBC | Forestry Careers |
| All year round | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc) | Taranaki | 500+ | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff (Hotels etc) | Taranaki | 500+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Taranaki | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Wellington | GoWithTourism | |
| All year round | Forestry - Harvesting, Processing | Nelson/Marlborough | 300 | Forestry Careers |
| All year round | Fisheries | Nelson/Marlborough | 2500 | TradeMe Jobs |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Nelson/Marlborough | 1000+ | |
| All year round | Mussel Farming | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | West Coast | 250+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | West Coast | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Canterbury | 500+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Canterbury | Meat Your Career | |
| All year round | Potato grading | Canterbury | ||
| All year round | Accommodation Staff | Central Otago | 500 | |
| All year round | Casual Event Staff | Central Otago | 100+ | |
| All year round | Meatworks – processing | Central Otago | TBC | Meat Your Career |
| All year round | Casual Event Staff | Fiordland, Queenstown & Wanaka | 100+ | |
| All year round | Accommodation Staff (Hotels etc) | Fiordland, Queenstown & Wanaka | 5000+ | |
| All year round | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc)) | Queenstown & Wanaka | 5000+ |
January
February
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb - April | Apple harvest & packing | Hawkes Bay | TBC | |
| Feb - April | Apples - thinning | Hawkes Bay | TBC | |
| Feb - April | Apple harvest & packing | Waikato | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - April | Apples - thinning | Waikato | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - April | Hop Harvesting | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - April | Apple harvest & packing | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | |
| Feb - April | Apples - thinning | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - April | Berry picking and packing | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - April | Pear picking and packing | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
| Feb - March | Sweetcorn picking and packing | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
March
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March - September | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | Central Otago | 1000 | |
| March - September | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | Otago - Southland | 1000 | |
| March - July | Olive picking and pressing | Wellington | 500+ | |
| March | Olive harvesting | Hawkes Bay | TBC | Pick NZ |
| March - August | Kiwifruit harvest + packing | Bay of Plenty | TBC | |
| March - August | Kiwifruit harvest + packing | Northland | TBC | |
| March - July | Olive harvesting | Northland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| March - July | Olive harvesting | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | Pick NZ |
| March - May | Potato harvesting | Canterbury | TBC |
April
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April - September | Winter Snow Sports Staff | Canterbury | 300 | |
| April - September | Winter Snow Sports Staff | Queenstown & Wanaka | 1000+ |
May
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May - October | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc) | Central Otago | 1000 | |
| May - October | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc) | Canterbury | 5000 | |
| May - September | Seafood - Processing | West Coast | <100 | Seafood NZ |
| May - June | Contract Milker | Hawkes Bay | TBC | Pick NZ |
| May - October | Macadamia harvesting | Bay of Plenty | TBC | Pick NZ |
| May - October | Macadamia harvesting | Auckland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| May - October | Macadamia harvesting | Northland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| May - October | Macadamia harvesting | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | Pick NZ |
| May - September | Deep sea fishing | West Coast | TBC |
June
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June - August | Wine Bottling | Nelson/Marlborough | 100 | |
| June - August | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | Canterbury | 100 | |
| June - August | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | Hawkes Bay | 200 | Pick NZ |
| June - September | Forestry - Planting | Nelson/Marlborough | 300 | Forestry Careers |
| June - August | Vine Harvest / Maintenance Worker | Nelson/Marlborough | 1000 | |
| June - August | Vine Training/Pruning/Trimming | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | |
| June - August | Vine Harvest Worker | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | |
| June - January | Lemon picking and packing | Bay of Plenty | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - January | Lemon picking and packing | Northland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - October | Grapefruit picking and packing | Waikato | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - October | Grapefruit picking and packing | Auckland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - October | Grapefruit picking and packing | Northland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - October | Orange picking and harvesting | Northland | TBC | Pick NZ |
| June - September | Forestry - Planting | Hawkes Bay | TBC | Forestry Careers |
July
August
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August - April | Milk harvesting | West Coast | 400 | |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | Northland | 1000 | |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | West Coast | 1000 | Pick NZ |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | Canterbury | 1000 | NZ Farm Source |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | Central Otago | 1000 | NZ Farm Source |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Taranaki | 1200 | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Northland | 2000 | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Waikato | 3000 | |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | Taranaki | 3000 | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Canterbury | 6000 | NZ Farm Source |
| August - October | Dairy / Beef farm assistant | Waikato | 8000 | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Bay of Plenty | TBC | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | |
| August - April | Milk harvesting | Central Otago | TBC | |
| August - December | Dairy - Milking | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC | |
| August - October | Dairy – Calf rearing | Bay of Plenty | TBC | |
| August - October | Dairy – Calf rearing | Wairarapa (Wellington) | TBC | |
| August - October | Dairy – Calf rearing | Nelson/Marlborough | TBC |
September
October
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October - March | Tourism Summer Activity Staff | Waikato | 1000 | |
|
October - March |
Tourism Summer Activity Staff (Outdoor Guides, Biking, Attractions) | Fiordland, Queenstown & Wanaka | 1000+ | |
| October - March | Tourism Boat Crew & Watersports | Fiordland, Queenstown & Wanaka | 150+ | |
| October - March | Tourism Boat Crew | Waikato | 250+ | |
| October - March | Tourism Boat Crew & Watersports | Auckland | 250+ | |
| October - March | Tourism Summer Activity Staff | Taranaki | 300+ | |
| October - March | Tourism Summer Activity Staff | Auckland | 500+ |
November
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | Sheep -shearing hands | Otago - Southland | 350 | NZ Shearing |
| November | Cherry canopy management | Central Otago | 400 | Pick NZ |
| November | Vineyard bud rubbing/shoot thinning | Central Otago | 500 | Pick NZ |
| November | Apples - thinning | Central Otago | 500 | Pick NZ |
| November | Grain Harvests | Otago - Southland | 650 | TradeMe Jobs |
| November | Dairy – Calf rearing | Otago - Southland | 850 | NZ Farm Source |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc.) | Nelson/Marlborough | 1000 | |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc.) | Hawkes Bay | 1500 | |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | Hawkes Bay | 100+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | Northland | 100+ | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Water Sports & Boat Crew | Northland | 100+ | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs etc)) | West Coast | 150+ | |
| Nov - Feb | Tourism Outdoor & Activity Guides | West Coast | 250+ | |
| Nov - Feb | Winemaking | Nelson/Marlborough | 250+ | Wine Jobs online |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Water Sports & Boat Crew | Bay of Plenty | 250+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc.) | Northland | 250+ | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc.) | Martinborough | 250+ | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | Nelson/Marlborough | 250+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Water Sports Guides & Boat Crew | Nelson/Marlborough | 250+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Summer Activity Staff (Guides & Biking) | Central Otago | 250+ | |
| November | Stonefruit thinning | Central Otago | 450 – 600 | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | Bay of Plenty | 500+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Summer Activity Staff | Canterbury | 500+ | |
| Nov - Mar | Strawberry picking and packing | Auckland | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Apr | Pea harvesting | Hawkes Bay | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Apr | Pea harvesting | Nelson/Marlborough | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Apr | Pea harvesting | Canterbury | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Mar | Onion harvesting | Waikato | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Mar | Onion harvesting | Auckland | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - Mar | Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides | Wellington | tbc | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Hospitality Staff (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, Vineyards etc.) | Wellington | tbc | GoWithTourism |
| Nov - Mar | Meat Processing | Nelson/Marlborough | tbc | Meat Your Career |
| Nov - May | Stone fruit harvest + packing | Hawkes Bay | tbc | Pick NZ |
| Nov - May | Berry harvest + packing | Hawkes Bay | tbc | Pick NZ |
December
| WHEN | WHAT | WHERE | JOBS | FIND JOBS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | Blueberry harvest & pack | Central Otago | 100 | Pick NZ |
| December | Vineyard tucking/wire | Central Otago | 500 | Pick NZ |
| December | Apples - harvesting | Central Otago | 500 | Pick NZ |
| December | Grain Harvests | Otago - Southland | 820 | TradeMe |
| December | Milk harvesting | Otago - Southland | 850 | |
| December | Sheep -shearing hands | Otago - Southland | 1000 | NZ Shearing |
| December | Cherry harvest & pack | Central Otago | 4000 | Pick NZ |
| December | Meatworks – processing | Otago - Southland | 5000 | Meat Your Career |
| December | Stonefruit thinning | Central Otago | 450-600 | Pick NZ |
| December - March | Blueberry picking and packing | Bay of Plenty | TBC | Pick NZ |
| December - March | Blueberry picking and packing | Waikato | TBC | Pick NZ |