Maya and Kaja from Denmark"Six months as a trainee has now come to an end, an internship that became the adventure of a lifetime!"
Exciting things to do in New Zealand
New Zealand may be a small country, but the people are busy, and the landscape is breathtaking! There are endless things to do when you visit New Zealand. As a RENZ trainee, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the agricultural community, travel, and explore all New Zealand has to offer.
How do I apply to come to New Zealand?
Contact your country home partner - Find them on the Grow Abroad website.
Dairy Farms
New Zealand dairy farms export 95% of the products they produce.
Dairy placements generally start in July and finish around January, although year-long placements are also available. Applications are accepted at all times for dairy, but there is the biggest demand for a July start, for which we need applications by February/March.
Agriculture
Beef, pigs, field crops & machinery, or any mix of these.
Crop Farming: Some common crops in New Zealand include cereal grains (wheat, barley, oats, etc.), small vegetable seeds (for sprouting), clover seed, and grass seed. Most New Zealand crop farms will involve some sheep work.
Cropping placements generally start in October and run until March-May. If you are interested in applying for an Agriculture placement, please have your application completed fully and submitted by April-May.
We also have a small number of placements available working for harvesting contractors. This is highly sought after, so applications should be made early, before the end of June.
Horticulture
Landscaping and plant nursery jobs.
Landscaping placements are generally for 12 months, and hard and soft landscaping positions are available. Plant nursery jobs are very limited and start from August to October and run through until March to May. If you are interested in applying for a horticulture placement, please have your application completed fully and submitted by April or May.
Agri-home
A combination of working in the home and around the farm.
An Agri-home placement consists of living with a Kiwi family. It could consist of meal preparation, childcare, general house upkeep, as well as working outside completing general farm duties, and garden maintenance.
Agri-home placements generally start in July and run for 3-6 months. If you are interested in applying for an Agri-home placement, please submit your application before the end of March.
Oenology - Wine
Rural Exchange New Zealand started with oenology, which is very close to our hearts.
The NZ Wine industry is strong on aromatic varieties and has quickly forged an international reputation for the high quality of its wines, particularly what many experts consider to be among the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Other varieties produced to a very high standard include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and fuller-bodied reds, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
There are about 600 wineries, ranging in size from large international corporate-owned businesses to small family-run enterprises.
Marlborough in the South Island is the largest wine-growing region and home of the famous Sauvignon Blanc, followed by Hawkes Bay in the North Island. Other major wine-growing regions are Gisborne, Auckland, Canterbury and, near the bottom of the South Island, Central Otago, which has the world’s most southern vineyards.
Oenology placements generally start in February/March. If you are interested in applying for an Oenology placement, please have your application completed fully and submitted by October.
Find out what it takes to become a RENZ Trainee to work in New Zealand and what is expected.
How do I apply to come to New Zealand?
Contact your country home partner - Find them on the Grow Abroad website.
