People who are in New Zealand on a visitor permit may apply to have the conditions of their permit varied to allow them to do seasonal work (planting, maintaining, harvesting, and packing crops) in the horticulture or viticulture industry.
These people can only get a variation for this purpose once in each visit to New Zealand. The maximum time they can work is for six weeks. To get a variation to do seasonal work, they must:
- show they are a genuine visitor to New Zealand, and
- submit the appropriate form and fee.
Once they hold a variation of conditions under this policy, they may only work in a region where the Ministry of Social Development has declared a seasonal labour shortage. Regions with current seasonal labour shortages are:
- Central Hawkes Bay and Hawkes Bay (until 26 April 2009)
- Central Otago (until 31 May 2009).