Kiwifruit picking jobs thrive in Bay of Plenty (Te Puke, Katikati), Gisborne, Northland during March-July harvest. Earn NZD 18-31/hr piece-rate ($500-1,000/week), hand-picking Gold/Green from vines into 20kg bins. Garcia Contracting, Apata Group, PickNZ hiring pickers now – physically fit workers with transport preferred.
Job Overview
Job Title: Kiwifruit Picker / Orchard Harvest Worker / Crop Farm Worker
Location: Bay of Plenty (Te Puke, Katikati), Gisborne, Whangarei, Edgecumbe
Industry: Horticulture & Fruit Harvesting
Hiring Companies: Apata Group, JK Contracting, Garcia Contracting, PickNZ
Job Demand: High (multiple openings via PickNZ, MSD Find a Job)
Job Responsibilities
- Manually pick ripe kiwifruit from overhead vines without bruising
- Fill 680L bins (team rate NZD 26/bin Gold; 12 bins/hr = NZD 31/hr)
- Quality check size/color/ripeness per supervisor standards
- Empty bags/buckets (up to 20kg) into bins efficiently
- Work 7 days across orchards; transport if provided
- Team picking paired for speed
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: 18+ years
Experience: None required – training provided
License: Preferred for transport; not always mandatory
Fitness: Physically fit for lifting, ladders, all weather
Availability: March-July full season commitment
Salary & Benefits 🔥
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| Pay Rate | NZD 18-31/hr piece/bin |
| Weekly Avg | NZD 800-1,000 |
| Guaranteed Hrs | 30-50 weekly |
| Accommodation | Often provided/discount |
| Transport | Shared vans available |
| Bonus | NZD 2/bin end-of-season |
| Perks | Meals, KiwiSaver |
| Yearly Total | NZD 15K-25K/season |
Salary Structure
Related Job Posts
Visa & Documents
Visa Options: Accredited Employer Work Visa (seasonal shortage), Working Holiday Visa (18-30)
Seasonal Scheme: New Zealand Seasonal Work Scheme support via PickNZ
Required:
✓ Physically fit declaration
✓ Right to work NZ
✓ Available March-July
✓ Drug test if requested
✓ Team player attitude
How to Apply
CV: Highlight fitness, outdoor work, availability
Portals: PickNZ.co.nz jobs, MSD Findajob (crop workers), Backpackerboard
Direct: Apata Group, GarciaContracting.co.nz
Agencies: NZKGI jobs board
👉 Apply Now for Kiwifruit Picking Jobs NZ 2026
Important Tips for Job Seekers
- Piece-rate peaks at 2 bins/hr – practice speed early
- Bay of Plenty = highest volume, accommodation bundles
- Full season = bonuses, references for visas
- Gold kiwi pays premium over Green
- Teams fill bins faster, split earnings
- Start March for peak harvest
FAQs
Experience needed?
No – training on-site
Hours per day?
8-10+ hrs, 7 days possible
Accommodation?
Often included, book early
Piece vs hourly?
Bin rate common, min wage guaranteed
Weather impact?
Rain delays, but essential work
Visa sponsorship?
Seasonal visas via employers
Conclusion
Kiwifruit picking NZD 15K-25K seasonal cash, fun outdoor teams in Bay of Plenty! Apata, Garcia hiring March 2026 now. Apply via PickNZ/MSD IMMEDIATE – fit pickers are priority harvest hires. Harvest NZ’s $1.9B kiwi export boom in 2026!