Machine Operator

Southern Cross Horticulture; Pukehina Beach; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Modern equipment

Job summary

Southern Cross Horticulture in Pukehina, North Island, is hiring a permanent full-time Machine Operator. You’ll start on the mulcher and weed spray, and we’ll train you to move into an Atom Operator role maintaining our orchards.

Applicants should have hands-on machinery experience, be comfortable with tractors, mowers and forklifts, and hold a full NZ driver’s license. You’ll join a reliable, values‑driven team with a strong growth path in a growing horticulture business.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience operating agricultural machinery.
• Experience with spraying crops is advantageous.
• Ability to operate tractors, mowers and forklifts safely.
• Must hold a full NZ driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Operate machinery with focus on safety, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Mix and apply chemicals to required specifications.
• Maintain daily logs of spray applications, chemical use and hours.
• Perform pre- and post-operation safety checks.
• Report faults or damage and assist with minor maintenance.
• Support wider machinery operations as required (mowing, mulching, etc.).

Skills

Machine operation

Spraying experience

Forklift operation

Driver's license

Tools

Tractors

Mowers

Forklifts

Agrichemical spray equipment

Job description

Southern Cross Horticulture – Pukehina, North Island

Join our team on a mission to create and manage the world's best kiwifruit orchards.

We are looking for a Machine Operator who has the passion to grow thier career with us. To start, you will jump on the mulcher and will weed spray, but along the way we will train you up and you will move into an Atom Operator role, a specialist position in maintaining our orchards.

We are looking for someone with a sound knowledge of operating machines, you will be comfortable in and will have experience with tractors, mowers, and forklifts. If you have prior spraying experience then that is a benefit too.

Join a company that’s growing the future of horticulture.

Southern Cross Horticulture is a family-owned business and one of New Zealand’s most successful orchard developers. We’re known for developing and managing world-class kiwifruit orchards, and we take pride in the quality of our work, our people, and the strong values we live by every day.

We’re looking for reliable, hands‑on people to join our permanent crew across our orchards. We have 2 operator positions available; one in Pukehina/Tauranga and the other in Edgecumbe.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operatingmachinerywith a focus on safety, accuracy, and efficiency
• Mixing and applying chemicals to exact specifications
• Maintaining daily logs of spray applications, chemical use, and machinery hours
• Performing regular pre and post-operation safety checks
• Reporting any faults or damage and assisting with minor maintenance
• Supporting wider machinery operations as required (mowing, mulching, etc.)

About You:

• Proven experience as anOperator(or similar weed spraying experience)
• Confident in handling, mixing, and applying agrichemicals safely
• Highly accurate, with a strong eye for detail and a commitment to quality
• Reliable, self-managing, and flexible with working hours based on weather and orchard needs
• Holds a full NZ driver’s license (machinery or tractor endorsements a bonus)
• Brings a positive attitude and works well in a values-aligned team

What We Offer:

• A permanent full-time role with consistent hours
• Modern, well-maintained equipment and systems
• Strong team culture built on integrity, excellence, and respect
• Career development opportunities in a growing business

For more information about Southern Cross Horticulture Ltd visit: www.southerncrosshorticulture.co.nz