Fruit Thinning & Canopy Maintenance

Kiwifruit

Seasons

Open Calendar
Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit vines have a major growth burst as summer starts, which means the vines must be pruned again. The pruning involves removing excess vegetation from the vine to ensure sunlight reaches the fruit. Fruit thinning is the removal of excess or damaged fruit to allow quality kiwifruit to grow.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

If you enjoy being outdoors, this could be a role for you. Thinning is done by hand and for pruning you’ll use secateurs or loppers. Both thinning and pruning can be repetitive work and may involve bending under the vines, but you will get the hang of it easily.

What you’ll get out of it

Fruit thinning and canopy management can lead onto harvesting roles. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less than minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs at:

Pick NZFind a job

Harvest

Kiwifruit

Seasons

Open Calendar
Kiwifruit

Harvesting is when mature fruit is removed from trees. Two types of harvest roles are available – picking and packing. Orchard roles can be more physically demanding, whereas packhouse roles can suit all ages.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

Picking involves walking underneath the vines and twisting the fruit, placing it into bags carried over your shoulders and then gently placing the fruit in large bins.

Packing is indoors, based in the packhouses where the picked fruit is received, quality checked and packed ready to sell. You will be on your feet and need to have good concentration levels and good hand/eye coordination. 

What you’ll get out of it

Harvest can lead onto a pruning role. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less than minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs at:

Pick NZFind a job

Pruning

Kiwifruit

Seasons

Open Calendar
Kiwifruit

With the harvest complete, vines are dormant, making it the ideal time for pruning. This is winter work, so you’ll need to rug up (at least until the sun appears and you warm up!).

What you’ll need to bring to the role

Pruning kiwifruit is the removal of last season’s fruiting canes and selecting and tying down new canes for the next season’s growth. The canopy should have even spacing (no gaps) for growing consistent fruit. This involves repetitive use of loppers and secateurs.

What you’ll get out of it

Following pruning, you may be able to move into a bud thinning role in Spring. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less than minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs at:

Pick NZFind a job

Bud Thinning

Kiwifruit

Seasons

Open Calendar
Kiwifruit

Bud thinning starts in the orchards in Spring when new shoots and flower buds start to appear on the canes. You’ll be removing some of the new buds by hand to allow space for the developing fruit to grow bigger and healthier. 

What you’ll need to bring to the role

If you enjoy being outdoors, this could be a role for you. There is plenty of walking and it can be repetitive work, but you will get the hang of it easily.

What you’ll get out of it

Following bud thinning, you may be able to move into a fruit thinning/canopy management role. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less than minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs at:

Pick NZFind a job

Kiwifruit

Locations

Nelson / Tasman

Produced commercially since the 1930s, New Zealand kiwifruit is now a flagship crop grown by around 2,800 growers and marketed internationally by Zespri. There are many seasonal jobs available in the kiwifruit industry to suit all ages, including sorting/grading, packing, packhouse supervision and logistical support.

Apply Now

View available jobs at:

Pick NZFind a job

Locations

Nelson/Tasman produces 3% of New Zealand’s total kiwifruit crop. Growers may make provision for older workers wishing to take up seasonal roles, including shorter shifts.

Some growers even provide parking spaces for ‘grey nomad’ motorhomes travelling the country. Working in kiwifruit is one of a number of seasonal options open to those enjoying travelling in the Top of the South. For more information on Nelson/Tasman employers offering flexible hours, accommodation, parking spots for seasonal work, check NZKGI list.

Learn more about the roles

Fruit Thinning & Canopy Maintenance

Kiwifruit vines have a major growth burst as summer starts, which means the vines must be pruned again. The pruning involves removing excess vegetation from the vine to ensure sunlight reaches the fruit. Fruit thinning is the removal of excess or damaged fruit to allow quality kiwifruit to grow.

Harvest

Harvesting is when mature fruit is removed from trees. Two types of harvest roles are available – picking and packing. Orchard roles can be more physically demanding, whereas packhouse roles can suit all ages.

Pruning

With the harvest complete, vines are dormant, making it the ideal time for pruning. This is winter work, so you’ll need to rug up (at least until the sun appears and you warm up!).

Bud Thinning

Bud thinning starts in the orchards in Spring when new shoots and flower buds start to appear on the canes. You’ll be removing some of the new buds by hand to allow space for the developing fruit to grow bigger and healthier. 

Plan Your Next Step

Come and see what our industry has to offer and plan an employment and training path.

Open Calendar

For Employers

If your work is coming to an end and you are interested in seasonal workforce redeployment please contact:

Top of the South Early Response Team: totsearlyresponse@msd.govt.nz