Seasonal Forklift Operator 2026/2027

Suncrest Orchard; Ripponvale; On-site; NZD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Guaranteed 32 hours/week

Seasonal fixed term

Accommodation options

Great team environment

Hourly pay

End of season bonus

Job summary

Suncrest Orchard in Otago, Ripponvale is seeking three forklift operators for the cherry export packing season, starting mid-late November to late January/early February. Roles include forklift work and general packhouse duties with flexible hours during peak season.

A guaranteed minimum of 32 hours per week and accommodation options are offered, with an End of Season bonus if you stay to season end. Applicants must hold a NZ OSH Forklift license with F endorsement and have forklift experience

Qualifications

• A current NZ OSH Forklift license with 'F' endorsement.
• Experience operating a forklift in a workplace.
• Teamwork.
• A positive can-do attitude and self-motivation.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Attention to detail.
• The ability to work long hours.

Responsibilities

• Unload and load fruit trailers around the packhouse.
• Pre-cool fruit and manage bin cards.
• Ensure bins are correctly placed in cool stores.
• Feed fruit to the packing line and maintain product security.
• Unload delivery trucks and load dispatch trucks.
• Perform general packhouse duties when not operating a forklift.

Skills

Forklift license F endorsement

Forklift operation

Teamwork

Reliability

Punctuality

Attention to detail

Positive can-do attitude

Self-motivation

Ability to work long hours

Job description

About the role

We employ a team of three forklift drivers during the cherry export packing season. The positions start between mid-late November and mid-December. Work goes through until the completion of the cherry export season which is generally late January / early February.

As a forklift operator you will be working in and around thepackhouse unloading and loading fruit trailers, pre-cooling fruit, completing bin cards,ensuring bins are correctly placed in the cool stores, feeding fruit to the packing line andensuring product security is not compromised.There will also beunloading delivery trucks and loading dispatch trucks. Our forklift operators do not sit on a forklift all day and when you are not operating a forklift, you are required to undertakeother general packhouse duties.

The role requires you to be able to work flexible hours, particularly in the high season December to February.

We Offer:

• A guaranteed minimum of 32 hours per week.

• Seasonal Fixed Term Employment agreements.

• A range of accommodation.

• A great team environment.

• Payment by hourly rate.

• If you work in the role until the end of the cherry packing season, we pay an End of Season Bonus.

Job Requirements

• A current NZ OSHForklift license with 'F' endorsement

• Experience operating a forklift in a workplace

• Teamwork

• A positive can-do attitude and self-motivation

• Reliability and punctuality

• Attention to detail

• The ability to work long hours

We do require a CV as part of the application process. Please make sure your CV is up to date and in English. We don't need anything formal or fancy - we want to learn about your previous work experience, where it was, duties you performed and the time frames of the position. If you have are from overseas and have undertaken any paid work in NZ - please also include these details in your CV.