New Zealand Fruit Picking Jobs With Visa Sponsorship

Fruit picking is one of the most common unskilled jobs with visa sponsorship. Many foreigners, particularly from Africa and Asia, undertake this paid activity in the agricultural industry.

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If you are interested in agricultural activities, like being a vineyard assistant, orchard worker, or even farm supervisor, there are a huge number of job openings in New Zealand. This type of job is seasonal and is usually in high demand during certain times of the year. This means there is a large-scale recruitment drive when there is a need for additional help.

There is an increasing demand for this kind of fruit-picking job, particularly during the cold weather, as a lot of employers prepare to begin harvesting their farm produce. A notable aspect of fruit-picking jobs in New Zealand is that some companies will happily cover your travel and visa expenses to ease the relocation process.

In this article, we will explore steps to getting hired as a fruit picker in New Zealand and getting visa sponsorship.

Let’s begin by understanding the job description and duties of a worker in the fruit-picking sector.

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Without further ado, let’s get started.

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Table of Contents

Job Description: Fruit Picking

Here are some of the tasks you will be expected to carry out for a fruit picker

Selecting, checking, and organising fruit and vegetables for picking based on their size and ripeness, and throwing away decaying and over-ripened crops.
Handle farm equipment and tools to gather and harvest fruit, nuts, and vegetables.
Carry harvested fruit and vegetables into boxes, ensuring no damage or harm to the produce.
Handle tractors or other machinery to transport and distribute fruits and vegetables to the warehouse.
Arrange and deliver farm produce.
Operate forklifts to move and lift boxes of fruits onto trucks.
Collecting, assessing, categorising, and warehousing stocks when necessary.
Sanitising and cleaning up work areas and ensuring hygienic premises.

Alternate Job Titles

Field worker
Agricultural labourer
Fruit harvester
Orchard worker
Ranch hand
Farm labour assistant
Farm attendant

Application Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Some of the skills and qualifications of a fruit picker in New Zealand include;

Excellent interpersonal skills.
Has to be strong and healthy.
Fine motor skills
Experience and expertise in working on the farm.
Ability to cope with long work hours.

Fruit Picking Employee Salary in New Zealand

Fruit pickers in New Zealand are paid a monthly salary of $2,500. This is not a fixed salary, as it may be higher or lower based on a variety of factors that may be considered during work assignments.

Fruit pickers differ from other kinds of unskilled jobs overseas. They are paid hourly or based on the number of fruits harvested.

This factor can always be discussed and an agreement can be reached between you and the employee in the work agreement. Your prospective employer in New Zealand can also provide incentives to workers, like accommodation, commission, and a free lunch.

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Working conditions for a Fruit Picker in New Zealand

As a fruit picker in New Zealand, you can work in a wide range of environments, from advanced technology facilities to small orchards.

You can perform your duties using step ladders, hand loppers, rakes, and long-handled fruit-picking tools, particularly when selecting tree crops.

You may also be expected to bend to select vine crops.

Your employers may give you gloves to prevent your hands from getting hurt by prickly branches. Climatic conditions can vary from temperate to rainy, but you may be expected to carry on with work so that the harvest is promptly completed.

Note that some employers may offer housing but fruit pickers usually have to look for their own accommodations.

How to Find Lucrative Fruit Picking Jobs in New Zealand with Visa Sponsorship

You can find fruit-picking jobs in New Zealand with visa sponsorship through a variety of methods. This section will explain effective ways to do this:

Get a friend or loved one who lives in New Zealand to find fruit-picking jobs on your behalf

If you have a family member or friend who lives in New Zealand, you can request they contact farms, orchards, or vineyards in their neighbourhood on your behalf to get fruit-picking jobs with visa sponsorship.

Look for recruitment agencies in New Zealand

You can find numerous recruitment agencies in New Zealand. You can get in touch with the ones with a verifiable track record to help connect you with your dream job.

Some of them include:

Job Posting Board

You can find fruit-picking jobs on online job posting websites, particularly the ones that offer visa sponsorship to New Zealand. All you have to do is browse their web pages and you will find the most recent jobs in this industry.

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Some examples of job posting boards include

How to Get a Fruit Picking Visa in New Zealand (NZ Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) Work Visa)

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Fruit Picking Work Visa?

You must fulfil these eligibility criteria for your application for a fruit-picking work visa to be successful. They include:

You have to be over 18 years old.
You have to be physically fit.
You have to be of upstanding behaviour.
Your intentions have to be genuine to satisfy the requirements of the visa.
You have to carry out the fruit-picking work for an employer with supplementary seasonal employment or a recognised seasonal licence.

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What Are the Required Documents for a Fruit Picking Work Visa in New Zealand?

To apply for a fruit-picking visa, you need to present the following documents:

Identification Documents

Passport: You have to present a copy of your international passport. It must have a validity period of at least three months. The immigration officials may ask to see your original passport if you present a photocopy.

Two photos. You need to present two photos that fulfil the criteria for a New Zealand visa photo.

Evidence of Good Health

You might also be asked to present an X-ray certificate or a medical fitness certificate when applying for a New Zealand fruit picker visa. This is evidence of good health and fitness.

Police Certificate

You have to provide evidence of good behaviour by presenting a police certificate that shows no crime record. In the application form, you will be asked whether you have been extradited or removed from a country.

Evidence That You Plan to Do Fruit Picking

You have to present evidence that you have gotten an offer of employment from an eligible employer. This can take the form of:

Documents such as housing reservations or travel itineraries showing that you will be where your employers are located.
Documents that present information about fruit picking jobs available in the agricultural or farming sector.
Archives or files that show that you are engaging with your prospective employer.
Records that show that you are in touch with your employer.

Here is a list of companies with a Supplementary Seasonal Employer (SSE) licence.

Evidence You Are Above Eighteen Years

You have to present identification papers that show you are over the age of eighteen.

How do I apply for a fruit-picking work visa in New Zealand?

Here is a step detailing how to apply for a fruit-picking work visa in New Zealand:

Fill out the form

Ensure you fill out the work visa application form. You are expected to use only capital letters when completing the form. Check for and provide answers to all the required sections.

Submit the necessary paperwork

You have to sort out the paperwork required for your visa application. This includes the visa application form, the necessary documents, and the application fee. Not submitting the required documents may reduce your chances of getting the visa.

Make payment for the application fee

Endeavour to pay the application fee for the fruit picker work visa. You can use your debit/credit card to make the payment.

All you have to do is present your bank details while finalising the necessary payment for the visa application. Immigration officials can also provide you with the option of paying via a local bank. If you do not pay for the application fee, your application won’t be processed.

Submit the application form to INZ

Submit the work visa application form to the New Zealand embassy or consulate in your country.