Seasonal Farm Assistant and Machinery Operator - Fixed Term

Zealong Tea Estate is looking for an experienced horticulture farm machinery operator to join our team, working in the world's largest certified organic tea plantation. This is full-time, fixed term 6 month contract to cover our harvest season mid October, 2026 – end of March, 2027. For the right candidate, we might consider extending the term or making the position permanent. You will get to learn from a very capable, close-knit team who will help train and guide you as you gain experience working in our Tea Estate. The successful candidate must have horticulture or farming work experience, especially working with farm equipment and machinery. An ability to maintain and undertake minor repairs to farm machinery would make you stand out!

Purpose of the position: To assist our Estate Manager with tasks relating to the estate and farm, including:

• Operation of farm and estate's farm equipment and machinery as necessary
• Assisting with fertilizer storage and application
• Pest and disease control in and around the plantation and wider Estate
• Management of Pastoral blocks
• Drainage system maintenance and frost protection
• Trimming and pruning of tea, pre and post harvest
• Harvesting, machine and manual labour
• Cultivation and Earthworks
• Irrigation
• Helping with general estate operations and keeping the Estate grounds and facilities presentable and functional.
• Facilitating repairs and general maintenance of farm machinery, tools and equipment, farm buildings, tracks, fencing, shelterbelts, utilities, workers accommodation, irrigation system, weather station and waste water system
• mowing and tractor driving using push, ride-on and tractor mounted mowers.

The skills and knowledge required include

Previous New Zealand farm experience, including experience operating farm machinery.

A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and excellent attention to detail.

Initiative, positivity, and a strong drive to perform to the best of your ability, with a willingness to learn new skills.

Reliability and the ability to work independently and take pride in your work. Applicants must be drug-free.

The ability to work effectively as part of a team, while also working independently to consistently high standards, safely and efficiently.

Good communication skills, with the ability to follow instructions and ask for clarification when something is not understood.

* Good physical fitness and the ability to safely perform the physical requirements of the role.

As you will need New Zealand farm experience and be able to commence work soon, the successful candidate will need to be a New Zealand/Australian citizen/resident or have a valid NZ work visa. You must also be able and willing to work on a rostered basis and on some weekends.

The ideal applicant will have a minimum of 2 years experience operating modern Agricultural / horticultural machinery in an arable cropping, horticultural, market gardening or Agricultural contracting type setting, with particular experience with harvesting, fertiliser and foliar applications, and irrigation. An ability to set up, calibrate and maintain this type of machinery with precision and attention to detail is preferable. The ability to competently operate an excavator would be a bonus.

Who we are

Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand’s only commercial tea-estate, is widely regarded as a Waikato icon, producing 100% organic award-winning tea, and is a world-leading destination for tea, art and hospitality. Located minutes away from Hamilton city, and a 60 minute drive away from Auckland, you will enjoy the best of country living whilst having city life within reach. Within Zealong, we are a group of dedicated and talented people who punch well above our weight, often thinking outside the box for creative, world class ideas and solutions that allow for our brand and products to grow and be recognized the world over. After all, how else could we have gone from just 130 tea cuttings, to now having world class products that are sold worldwide, if not for our amazing and talented team! Check us out on https://zealong.com/.

The successful candidate will receive remuneration commensurate with their level of experience, with additional perks such as staff pricing on products, foods and beverages, not to mention the privilege of drinking our amazing selection of tea to your heart’s content!

If you think you are the person we are looking for, please apply with a cover letter setting out why you are the right person for the role, and enclose your CV. To impress us, (if you are shortlisted and invited for an interview) taking some time to research Zealong would definitely make you STAND OUT!!