Working Holidays and Work Experience New Zealand
Farm Jobs with New Zealand Farmers
Rules
Rules
- 1. You must ring or write at least 24 hours in advance of wishing to stay.
- 2. You must have a current membership list with the original colour cover. People without this list will not be hosted and will be turned away. Your passport will be checked for positive ID.
- 3. Most farms will arrange to collect you from the nearest town.
- 4. All homes are smoke free.
- 5. You may be helping the farm for an average 4 to 6 hours a day, but hosts will vary this to fit their needs. Work may include cooking, housework and gardens as well as farm work.
- 6. All toll calls must be paid for: ask before you use the phone.
- 7. No farm experience is needed but bring old clothes and shoes. Safety equipment and rules must be followed at all times.
- 8. Use strictly English when in the home. If you come with a friend or several friends it would be very unpolite and annoying, to talk to each other in a language which the family does not understand.
Please note:
The list is not a guaranteed work offer and cannot be used to get a work permit.
interconnections acts as an intermediary in selling the booklet and cannot be held liable for any loss or injury to any persons or property using this scheme.
IMPORTANT
Finding a Farm
Remember that the farms in the tourist areas get a lot of calls, so you may be disappointed if you only call Auckland or Queenstown.Many farms in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa receive few calls. Call before 8am or between 6pm-8pm. Most farmers are out farming during the day and your call may go unanswered. If you change your plans and donīt go to a farm, it is polite to call and say this and it allows the farm to accept other callers.
You can order a copy our list directly from our Shop. Or - if you do not understand any German - please see FAQs, "How to pay". Price 20 Euro or 20 US$.
Read the List Carefully
If you do not speak English well, do not call farms that say "Limited English? no" as you will not be hosted. Farms cannot generally take bookings more than one month ahead. Do not write/fax farms with "Advance bookings? no" more than two weeks ahead as they will not reply.Some visitors have booked several farms in advance in the past, but then did not turn up. Farmers believing they were already booked, turned other callers away. It is clear that this situation is frustrating for everyone. Abuse will be made known to farmers and membership be suspended.
An addressed envelope helps the farmer with foreign addresses.
On Arrival
Your hosts will show you the home and parts of the farm. They will ask to see your membership book and for a contact address and phone number in case of an accident. Ask if there is anything you donīt understand. Ask what you should do in an emergency, which neighbour to call first for help etc. On leaving you may fill in a visitor book. A "Thank you" card is always appreciated as is a small gift.Meals
You must be prepared to help with meal preparation, dishes and other household chores as you are making extra work for the family. Always ask what you can do to help.Water
Some farms rely on rainfall for household water. Ask and save water whenever you can. Ask when to shower, wash clothes etc so that there is enough hot water for everyone.English
If you cannot speak English well, you should go with someone who can. The new health and safety rules mean that farms will not take people who cannot understand dangers when they are being shown or explained them.Farm Work
You will be helping the farm on average 4 to 6 hours per day. Each farm sets its own rules and time limits to fit their needs. If you think a farm was unfair, please tell us about it so we can check it out. You will given jobs that you can do yourself, or you will help the farmer with their jobs depending on the weather and season. Some jobs will be dirty, others boring but that is all part of farm life. If you are allergetic against "dirt", a farm is no the right place for our.Complaints
If you have a problem with any part farm, call, email write or fax so that we can fix it for others. Remember that the scheme is voluntary and relies on good-will from all. Sorry, we canīt fix the weather!Star Farms
To help visitors find the farms that offer a truly great stay, we have started a star scheme. When a farm receives 1 recommendation, it will have one star listed beside the ownerīs names. Once it gets 3 recommendations, it will get 2 stars. For 5 or more recommendations, the farm will get 3 stars.To qualify a farm should:
- 1. Offer a happy stay in a warm, clean and comfortable farmhouse.
- 2. Provide a range of farm jobs for you to take part in.
- 3. Include you in some of their family activities so that you feel you are part of the family.
If you have stayed on a farm(s) that you think you would recommend to others, please let us know after your stay in New Zealand.
Farmers who want to be taken up in our list, please send an email.
