Farm Working Holiday in New Zealand?
Question by : Farm Working Holiday in New Zealand?
I’m looking to do farming work for a Working Holiday in New Zealand, but I’m concerned about committing to a place or a group that I won’t end up liking. Could anyone suggest a farm they have worked on or a group they have gone through, a reputable place for me to start? I’m 22, female, and looking to stay for the American summer period (June to August).
Thanks so much!
Best answer:
Answer by Driver T
Gidday,
I suggest you google on the NZ google page – ‘woofer’.
It maybe wwoofer, as it means willing workers on organic farms.
There’s quite a network of farmers through the country (not necessarily all organic) who subscribe to the scheme.
Your can stay as short or as long as you like on each farm, but you must move on if you or the farmer thinks you are becoming a burden.
Quite a good scheme, but I don’t know about wages. Farmers are notoriously low payers.
Another way to work on farms is to check out the Yellow Pages (www.yellow.co.nz) for Agricultural Contractors. This way you are not employed by the farmer, but by an independent contractor who may be into ploughing, milking, shearing, fencing, drainage, milling, sowing, harvesting and all sorts of rural activities.
At the time you intend coming though, lambing and calving will be starting to get underway, but most other work is nearly at a standstill. It’s our cold, wet, season.
Add your own answer in the comments!
I agree with the WWOOF idea, I was going to suggest it.
http://www.wwoof.org.nz
Its a great way to see New Zealand and doesn’t lock you down to one place. And you get to learn some alternative farming techniques.
June to August you could get market garden work on winter vegetables, milking, pruning in orchards… There’s always work to be done even in Winter, but you will get cold in many places. You could take a break from the cold by doing some work north of Auckland
Have fun
Hiya.
Agree with the people that say WWOOF would be a good place to start, however I note you say working holiday…does this mean you want to be paid ? Because WWOOF is about volunteering – you get like a bed and board in return for your work..
Good on ya though for wanting to do this kinda thing, its awesome.
I don’t know what kind of farming you are wanting …I for instance am in Dairy (when I’m not off work from an injury anyway!) and the issue is that your summer period, June to August, is actually the slowest time in the farming industries here. The middle of winter you see, so most people are just doing farm maintenance and preparing for the spring.
There are of course farms that winter milk, and I guess sheep and beef farms are a bit more rounded in their workload, but with the current prices it would be rather difficult to go out and get a temporary job.
But yeah, if there is anything else I can help with give me an email ok =) its cool to find other chicks that are farmers , even if they are overseas!!