Jobs in Napier, Hastings & Hawke's Bay

Hawkes Bay is famous for warm settled weather, a varied coastline and beaches, and thousands of acres of farmland, orchards and vineyards.

Hawke’s Bay is a large area with around 350km of coastline hugging the Pacific Ocean on the south-eastern side of the North Island.

Napier, built in a distinctive art deco style, adjoins Hastings, the region’s agricultural service hub.

More than 81,000 people live in the Hastings District, and more than 62,000 in the ‘twin’ city of Napier about 18km away

[Source: Statistics New Zealand data, 2018].

Hawkes Bay Seasonal Work

Picking apples in Hawkes Bay

(c) Willowford Alma Alta

Looking for more general employment information?

Hawke’s Bay is known as the “fruitbowl of New Zealand”, with apples and stone fruit dominating its agricultural industry.

In recent decades, the Bay has become one of the country’s premier wine-growing nations.

Hastings, with a population of over 81,000 people, is the main agricultural hub, but there are opportunities in horticulture, viticulture, and sheep & cattle farming across the region, all requiring workers.

Hawkes Bay Seasonal Calendar.
Seasonal work in Hawkes Bay by month, work type and worker demand
When What Jobs Find Jobs
Jan - April Sweetcorn picking and packing 300+ Pick NZ
Jan - May Pumpkin harvesting 100+ Pick NZ
October - April Apple and Pear harvest & packing, thinning 10,000 Pick NZ
March Olive harvesting 500 Pick NZ
May - June Contract Milking     1,000 NZ Farm source , Go Dairy
June - August (also year round) Vine Harvest/Maintenance Worker 200 Pick NZ
June - September Forestry - Planting 1,000 Forestry Careers
July - December Asparagus harvesting 300 Pick NZ
November - March Hospitality (F&B, Baristas, Chefs, etc.) 1,500 Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board
November - March Tourism Activity & Outdoor Guides 100+ Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board
November - April Pea harvesting 100+ Pick NZ
November - May Stone fruit harvest + packing 10,000 Pick NZ
November - May Berry harvest + packing 10,000 Pick NZ
Year round Dairy Farm Assistant 2,000 NZ Farm source , Trade Me Jobs
Year round Forestry - Harvesting, Processing 1,000 Forestry Careers
Year round Meatworks – processing 3,000 Meat Your Career
Year round Accommodation Staff 500+ Seek, TradeMe Jobs Backpacker board

Job vacancies in the Hawke's Bay region

Trade Me Jobs  - lists a large number of jobs in Hawke's Bay.

Seek - New Zealand's largest general job website.

Work and Income - jobs available in Hawke's Bay for Job Seekers.

careers.govt.nz - lists recruitment companies in New Zealand.

Newspapers

Most local newspapers publish jobs available in the area in the Situations Vacant column.

Job search help

Tips for recent migrants | careers.govt.nz - a free service to assist with your job search and prepare you for employment in the local labour market.

Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) - a government department helping to find employment for residents or those with a valid work permit. 

Business networking organisations 

Business Hawke's Bay - the economic development agency for the Hawke's Bay region.

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce - supports local businesses by offering advice, consultancy, training and networking opportunities.

Venus Network- a business network for women

Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to gain work experience, meet new people, learn about your community, and improve your English skills.

Volunteering Hawke's Bay matches volunteers looking for volunteering roles with organisations looking for specific skills, and offers free to low-cost training for volunteers.

Volunteering Hawke's Bay

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