BackpackNelson.com - backpacker accommodation and seasonal work in the Nelson Tasman area
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Seasonal Work in Nelson Tasman region

Seasonal Work Available in Nelson Tasman
Winter 2008

There is always plenty of work to be found in Nelson and that goes for the autumn and winter too.  Some examples of seasonal work is for the Fishing companies with the Hoki season coming up, in the city in cafes, bars, accommodation places, rest homes (in Nelson city) and other areas.  So head on up/down to the Nelson region, enjoy the great sunshine, cruisy atmosphere and make some money at the same time. 

Sealords (Fishing Company)
Nelson City
Click here for Sealords website
Now looking to fill positions for the 2008 Hoki season which runs thru to Sept.  Min starting rate is $13.16 gross per hour, with lots of opportunity to work overtime.  Can do morning or afternoon shifts.  go online to fill out an application form or Sealords Gatehouse, Vickerman St, Port Nelson. 

Talleys (Fishing Company)
Nelson City

Click here for Talleys website
They almost always have work unloading boats.  It is pretty tough work but great if you just want to earn some money for a week and are prepared to work hard & long shifts.  You need a NZ bank account and IRD number.  Best way of getting work is to just head down to the Amatal Building on Akersten St.  Port Nelson.  Or to the Gatehouse, Port Motueka. Fish factory and fishing boat work.

Apple Orchards
Apple season is now coming to an end.  If there is work it is best to phone or drive past the orchards as if they are in need of staff they'll have big signs at the road end. 

Grapes
For work enquiries the names of wineries and phone numbers can be found on the following website www.nelsonwines.co.nz or as above just call in to the wineries themselves. 

More seasonal work ideas and work to be found by clicking into the table below .....

Or by doing a search in our local newspaper

Seasonal Work Opportunities

Volunteer & Exchange Options

There are lots of options if you are keen on exchange or volunteer work

WWOOF'ing
(Willing workers on organic farms) is a huge organisation and there are 100's of farms scattered throughout New Zealand looking for volunteers. Generally it involves working 3/4 hours per day for food and accommodation.

HelpExchange.net
A free online listing of host farms, homestays, B&B, backpackers hostels and others who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation.  This is a really good site and you shold go and have a look at it if you are interested in exchange work.

The Department of Conservation
Have a list of current volunteer jobs posted on their site. Although doing volunteer work for DoC may actually cost you money, you may get to experience a unique part of New Zealand (look for jobs working on offshore islands).

Conservation Volunteers
New Zealand Trust for Conservation Volunteers

Farm Helpers in NZ
Free accommodation and food for help on farms for 4 - 6 hours a day. Works in a similar way to WWOOF in that you purchase a booklet and contact farms directly.

In Nelson City you can find volunteer work through Volunteer Nelson at the Community Centre Office at 50 Halifax St (almost opposite the AA).  They are aways looking for volunteers for a variety of jobs.  If you are interested just call in there.

On this page you’ll find out about the industries to work in, legal requirements to work, accommodation options, pay issues, how to find work, seasonal opportunities, and volunteer/exchange options.
 

Legal Requirements

To work in NZ you need a Work Visa.  This is most important. Information about applying and whether you are eligible for a work permit can be found at www.immigration.govt.nz/work/. When you arrive in New Zealand, you will then need to get a tax number. Obtaining a tax number (IRD number) is pretty straightforward and doesn't cost you anything. You just need a couple of pieces of identification, i.e an international passport and a birth certificate. Once you have a work visa and a tax number then you are able to work in New Zealand legally. Once you are in New Zealand if you have any questions about your working holiday visa you can call immigration for free on 0508 558 855. Excellent information about working/employee rights and general Q&A's can be found on the Dept of Labour website.

Don't have a Work Visa?
If you are only here on a visitor's visa you may be able to get a special work visa if you want to work on an apple orchard - these are usually available from early March each year.  To check if you are eligible for this contact the Seasonal Work Co-ordinator at the Work & Income Centre, 226 High Street, Motueka (they operate from Jan - June).  

Have 'Seasonal Solutions Nelson' find you work
Contact Ann Riley the seasonal employment co-ordinator:
Phone: 03 907 0234
Email: ann.riley003@msd.govt.nz
Or head into Seasonal Solutions Nelson @ 236 High St, Motueka. 

 

Accommodation

Some employers offer budget accommodation particularly orchards and farms. During the summer months a lot of the backpacker hostels prefer not to have seasonal workers staying (the hostels are busy looking after short-term travellers) but some are ok about it so just ask around. Staying in cabins and tenting at Holiday Parks is a good option. Or look in the newspapers under places to rent. You can just rent a room in a house with others or if there is a group of you you maybe able to rent a whole house.

If you are here in the off-season (May - Nov) then you will most likely be able to stay in a Backpacker Hostel and many will offer reasonable weekly rates (somewhere around $100 - $130 per week).   A popular option for Backpackers is to work an afternoon shift for one of the fishing companies or in a cafe, stay in a hostel and do exchange cleaning work in the mornings to pay for accommodation.   The only problem with this is that you can get extremely tired and end up not enjoying yourself at all (what are you travelling for again ...?).

 

Pay?

It is unlikely you'll get rich doing seasonal work but it should fill the bank account a bit and you get to live for awhile in one of the most beautiful areas in New Zealand (yeah well we could be a bit bias). Pay will probably be between $11 and $14 an hour (minimum wage is $12 an hour) or otherwise you'll be paid on contract i.e. paid for what you pick. If you are a fast, good worker this can work in your favour (average earnings is about $140 a day but some workers earn up to $300 - they've been doing it a long time).
In some industries such as the fishing one if you work weekends or at odd hours you may be paid time and a half or even double time making your hourly rates pretty respectable ...

 

How to find work? BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand Websites

Following are some ideas for finding seasonal work in Nelson Tasman

Nelson's Daily Newspaper
Wednesday and Saturday editions are best.

Door Knocking
Shops and cafes will sometimes have signs up to say there are vacancies. During the apple season (Feb - April) there are usually signs along the road from Nelson to Motueka saying that orchards need pickers.

Seasonal Work Co-ordinator
Based at Motueka Visitor Information Centre from Feb through to June.

Notices on Boards
Check out boards at Backpacker Hostels, outside shops, supermarkets, Information Centres, libraries etc

Signs on the Road
Particularly for Orchard Work.
If you have a car just call in at orchards to see if they have work.   Many farmers will be hard to get hold of over the phone and many prefer to employ after meeting people face-to-face.

 

Good websites for finding seasonal work in Nelson Tasman

www.advancedpersonnel.co.nz
Backpacker friendly recruitment Agency in Nelson city.  Well worth a call if you're looking for work in the region. Advanced Personnel, 175 Haven Road, Nelson.  Phone 03 548 0849.

www.backpackerboard.co.nz
A comprehensive site with a large NZ job section.

www.nelsonwines.co.nz
Contact details for all Nelson wineries - big and small.

www.bbh.co.nz
Jobs for backpackers plus a great site for accommodation all around NZ.

www.pickapicker.co.nz
New website that intends to have lots of jobs for our area.

www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Jobs
TradeMe websites is fast becoming one of the most popular places to advertise and look for jobs and there is always plenty on there.

www.fanselow-bell.co.nz
Recruiting Agency - drop your CV in, have a chat & they'll help you find work.

www.seasonalwork.co.nz
Auckland based but sometimes will have work available in the Nelson/Marlborough region.

www.seasonaljobs.co.nz
As above lots of jobs for travellers & backpackers but not always a lot for this region.  Worth checking out though as possibly more in future.

www.nzjs.co.nz
New Zealand Job Search. Lots of good generic information about different seasonal work possibilities and where you might get them.

www.jobstuff.co.nz
Usually does have some Nelson jobs advertised particularly in the spring/summer time.

www.fruitgrowers.org.nz/labour/
The Fruit Growers Seasonal Work Page. Good advice and contacts.

www.search4jobs.co.nz
General NZ job opportunities.

 

Type in keywords to find your good time solution
Industries
Below are the main industries that employ seasonal workers in the Nelson/Tasman region:
BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand
Fishing Industry
Fish factory processing, unloading boats...
BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand
Fruit Work
Apples, kiwifruit, grapes, berries - all are grown in quantity in the region
BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand
Hops
Nelson is the only place in NZ it is grown commercially
BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand
Hospitality
Waitressing, cooking, cleaning etc.
BackpackNelson.com - Backpacker Information for Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

For more info click here.

For Exchange Work see the information under the heading Volunteer and Exchange Work Options on the left hand side of this page.

 

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