Summer Intern - HPS Orchard Performance

Zespri; Tauranga; On-site; NZD 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Zespri is offering an internship with the Future Growing Systems team in the Bay of Plenty (Mount Maunganui area), focused on developing a smart monitoring framework for High Productivity Systems (HPS). You will collect and analyse biological data from our Pongakawa trial site to understand vine growth and fruit development, while gaining real‑world R&D experience.

Program dates: 23 November 2026 – 12 February 2027.

Qualifications

• Studying horticulture, agriculture, plant science, biological sciences or related discipline.
• Strong analytical and data management skills.
• Interest in applied research and future food production systems.
• Collaborative approach for fieldwork and data work.

Responsibilities

• Collect, manage and analyse biological performance data from HPS trial site.
• Develop a smart monitoring framework for HPS.
• Generate insights into vine growth, flowering, crop load and fruit growth.
• Support future optimisation of the production system.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data management

Fieldwork

Team collaboration

Education

STEM degree

Tools

R

Python

Excel

Job description

Zespri is more than simply the world's single-largest marketer of kiwifruit. We like to think of ourselves as fruit on a mission and as rebels with a cause: to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We are proudly the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit in more than 50 countries. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which we supply through our distribution partners to wholesale and retail customers. We are one of New Zealand's best-known international brands, dedicated to creating sustainable long-term value for growers.

He aha te mahi? What's the role?

Zespri's Future Growing Systems team is seeking an enthusiastic student to support the development of a smart monitoring framework for High Productivity Systems (HPS), an innovative vertical orchard system designed to improve productivity through enhanced canopy architecture, light interception, and crop development.

In this hands‑on internship, you'll collect, manage, and analyse biological performance data from our HPS trial site in Pongakawa, helping us better understand vine growth, bud‑break, flowering intensity, crop load development, fruit growth, and orchard performance within this novel production system.

Through this internship, you'll develop a smart monitoring framework for High Productivity Systems (HPS) and generate insights into orchard performance using biological and orchard management data. Your work will help improve understanding of vine development, flowering, crop load, and fruit growth, while supporting the future optimisation of this innovative production system

Program dates: 23 November 2026 – 12 February 2027. Please note: you need to be able to commit for the entire duration of the internship.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain real‑world R&D experience, work alongside industry experts, and contribute to research that could influence the future of kiwifruit growing. Ideally you will:

• Be studying horticulture, agriculture, plant science, biological sciences, or a related discipline
• Possess strong analytical and data management skills
• Hold an interest in applied research and future food production systems
• Have a collaborative approach and willingness to work both in the field and with data

To be eligible to apply you also need to meet the following selection criteria:

• Studying, or recently completed, an undergraduate or postgraduate degree or qualification at NZQA level 6-10. If study has been completed, your final semester should be less than 12 months ago.
• Studying or has studied, science, technology, engineering, design or business studies at a New Zealand tertiary education institute.
• Legally permitted to work in New Zealand.

This role will be based in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, a great place to spend the summer. Beaches, waterfalls and the Kaimai ranges all close by for summer day adventures! You will work out of our state of the art corporate office in central Mount Maunganui, have access to daily kiwifruit, free onsite parking, and a flexible work ethos. Please note, you will need to manage your own accommodation for the duration of the internship.

Applications close 4 September 2026.