I'm soooooooooooooooooo lazy to update but i just gotta do it, to keep my blog alive and keep my readers with my blog :D.
Alright, Te Puke is the kiwi capitol, with 3 majors kiwi packhouse companies, which is Seeka, Satara and Trevelyan.
And Te Puke itself has 18 packhouses, Trevelyan has 3 packhouses in the town, which is also the best facilities packhouse among the 3, both recommended by my friend and in the internet.
I love Trevelyan environment at the first sign, much different with Seeka and Satara, that is a small and cosy packhouse rather than the big factory with dust.
If you are about to come and ready to work in kiwi packhouse, i would recommend you to Trevelyan before try to Seeka and Satara. The detail info bout Trevelyan please link to http://www.trevelyan.co.nz/.
Before start my life in trevelyan, give you some info regarding kiwi packhouse. Kiwi season start from middle of March till July, every backpacker rush to Te Puke to look for kiwi packhouse or kiwi picking job during these months, because this is the most visit attraction here and the pay is really good.
My ankle been twisted for 5 times, i dont think i can take the kiwi picking job, which my friend told me its not easy at all, you've to work outdoor and relocated almost everyday, mostly guys would take this job coz it mostly pay based on how much you can pick.
While in packhouse, you could either apply grader (grade the class of the kiwi), packer (pack the kiwi), repacker (check and repack the packed kiwi).
The minimum pay for seasonal worker is NZD 12 per hour. I work as a repacker in Trevelyan, and the pay is NZD 14 per hour, work 6 day per week, from 730am till 5pm, its a day shift.
I forgot the night shift time, but if not mistaken, it start from 630pm till the next morning.
In Trevelyan, there are 2 15 minute smoko section and half hour lunch time. Lunch time doesn't count in your pay, so you got 9 hours pay everyday. As for me, i got pay weekly and its about NZD 606 after tax deduction (you must has got a IRD number, which is tax account before you start working).
I cant think of more info, if you do have some question just leave me comment and i would be happy to answering you.
Ok, now my story.
BK has been Te Puke 2 years ago, he worked as picker that time and he strongly recommended me to come here before April, if i really wish to get a packhouse job.
Of course you could apply online, but i don't think its really work, of course some people i met here they do get the job from internet, but its easier to get the job by visit the packhouses one by one, filling form and go and ask for job everyday.
Sound pity? Neh, you're a backpacker, and you need to survive, you will not pity after you gotta the job, or else, you will be more pity.
So i do, i got the 18 packhouse list with address in Te Puke library, and luckily we got a car, so we drive to every packerhouses and ask for a job.
The first day we went we has got nothing, every packhouse told us either we're too early (the season only start by April) or too late (1st batch seasonal work has taken). We only got a job few days later we reached Te Puke, but the best thing is we came earlier, so we could work till the season end, which is at least 3 months.
And luckily we got the best packhouse, Trevelyan.
Trevelyan
Zespri is the brand
Resting area
Resting area
ECPI table 1 memberThe photos of this blog taken during the off day of packhouse, just we're in the ECPI (Export Consignment Product Inspection) team and we have to check and repack the kiwi before send to export.
So you see the resting area is totally empty, except the few people of us.
And this is the reason why we dare to take photo in the factory, which is usually not allow in the factory.
"Treat others as you would like to be treated" At the entry
"There is no I in team" in the shed 3
"Those who show respect for others will in turn be shown respect" in shed 2
Grading department
Packing deparment
Packing deparment
Label machineMy task of work is, check the kiwi, find the punture, rots and soft fruit. If we found a lot of bad fruit in the checking, we have to repack the whole pallet of fruits and find all the bad fruit out.
My place to STAND! Stand 9 hours all the way!
ECPI table 1 and 2*see the drawer with full box of kiwi? you will know why in the end of the blog
Blogger and 2 M'sian, Xiu and Wenny
Sun & Mei Yee with their apron and name tag and hair net
Trevelyan allows staffs to take back kiwi that not up to the product standard, and ECPI has the priority to choose the best fruit among the bad fruit.
This is only application in the first 2 weeks we work there, but not in this week =(, coz we're tooooooooooo over and other department found this is not fair.
Ok la, we're over, 4 of us took 4 full box of kiwi home, like below =D.
Hell lot of kiwi
Oh yea, Kim Hoe and Williem are working in Seeka Packhouse as grader. The best thing to work as grader is, they could get weird kiwi, like below :D
Will named it "Penis Kiwi", its ONE kiwi not THREE kiwi!
Has good laugh people, but don't ask me to bring back to Malaysia, someone book from my housemate edy.
Alright perhaps next time will take more photo bout my work, such as friends in know in Trevelyan?
The blogger in the packhouseTauranga, NZ
20100427, 0810pm
Rach in been here for a month mood.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI plan to go to Te Puke in next middle of March. I have one question. You said that we should walk in everyday to ask for job. Does it mean, if I want to work for Trevelyan, I should some several to ask for job, or I just need to fill in the form and wait for them to call? I also know that the Trevelyan packhouse have accomodation for rent, do you have any information about it. Thank you :)
Hi Thao Lai, thanks for your reading and comment.
DeleteYup, if you really want the job in any pack house including Trevelyan, you should walk to the pack house everyday, especially during morning, the time they start working about 7am, because some people just absent without notice in advance (this happen very often), they won't call the people who left their contact because that is too troublesome, but pick someone who waiting outside the packhouse and work immediately.
Of course you can fill in the form and wait for the call, some people get the job so, if you want the job quick, i suggest you wait in the packhouse every morning.
If you want to work in Trevenlyan (and the is the best pack house in town after i done the research), you have to be patient and humble with Jody, the receptionist cum HR (if she still working there), she is the one who decide who to pick. If no extra hand needed in today, just show your face everyday and say hi to her, let her remember you and you'll be her first choice.
Regarding the accommodation of Trevelyan, i'm not sure if my info update. 2 years ago, accommodations are given out first to who apply the job online, and the rest is first come first serve based.
But the facilities of the accommodation is not really good, during 2010 there have no wifi, share bathroom (a lot of people sharing that) and very small room, some stay in the caravan.
I suggest you to find for a homestay, te puke is small but a lot of room to rent especially during kiwi season.
Good luck to you =)
Hi, may i know how did you guys get a car? You guys bought a used car or rent a car? Thanks.
ReplyDeletehi Baz, we bought a used car. Buying a car in NZ is easy and cheap, unless you only plan for short trip, otherwise i'd recommend to search for a used car.
DeleteYou can wide search NZ car for sales in the internet, plenty of information / contacts.
Hope this help.