Work at Rakaia Van Zanten Flowerbulbs
August 2008, few weeks after we left Blenheim for traveling,
finally we got a 3 weeks seasonal job offer from Van Zanten flowerbulbs when we at Lake Tekapo,
they got worker leaving so they need to fill up people for last few weeks.
Van Zanten locates at Rakaia, about 1 hour drive south from Christchurch and half hour up from Ashburton in Canterbury on the South Island.
Van Zanten is factory doing Lily flower Bulb Processing, they need people for cleaning, counting and packing the lily bulbs in order to export, the season start from May until end of august.
4 of us stay at Rakaia Holiday Park, it cost us 110 dollars each per weeks for staying in the cabin. Starting I really feel suffer staying there because the cabin don’t have kitchen and bathroom. We need to go out to toilet or even cooking and the problem is it’s freezing outside the room because of winter!
I work as packer in the factory, the machine packs the flower bulbs in the basket and mix up with dirt, and then I wrap it properly and put on the cover, that’s all what I do everyday. I only feel tough for first few days, because the machine is not slow, it comes out 3-4 baskets every minute and I need to follow that speed!
By the way, this job also become quite an easy task for me after I get used to it, just bit boring and the cold weather here make me feel cold for all the time.
This is my 3rd job at New Zealand during working holiday, as lily bulbs packer.
hi friend,
i’m going to new zealand in this coming winter (may-aug).
i would like to know,is it worth it to work at Van Zanten Flowerbulbs? Do you enjoy much? are the people friendly?
i’m sorry that i asked alot of question as this will be my first time working travel.
thank you for reply.
p/s: are you goin to work travel this coming winter?
@Pearl
Hi friend, good to hear that you going to New Zealand for working holiday in coming winter. For me, winter is not peak season, we are not easy to find a job, so any factory job opportunity in winter, just grab it.
Another thing is Van Zanten offer higher hourly rate compare with others, and the peoples there are friendly too, so i cant see any reason don’t want to work there, but for reminder, worth to work there doesn’t mean the job is easy, It can be tough job, depends on your luck, and in winter, its freezing !
New Zealand Working Holiday only can go once in lifetime, so my choice is limited to Australia at this moment, I don’t think i will go in this winter. Anyway, have you get your visa? Enjoy your trip there, you will never regret.
Hi Penguin
U going to apply Australia working holiday visa?
Did u get visa?
If YES, how much and how long u get the visa
@Katie
I still don’t have any intention to go Australia for working holiday yet, not young anymore, ha ha. So you will go New Zealand and Australia ?
Dear Penguin
Yeah!u r rite…. The age is sitl young. haha
Australia @ NZ i will choose NZ.
But all this only be visualise after you get visa.
And i gota fire my bos.haha
Do you have culture shock after back from NZ??!
@Katie
Definitely cant get used to the culture , environment here, found everything is expensive, not that organized etc… But no matter how, i still belongs here. After backed for 2 months, everything like back to normal, same as the day i left Malaysia. The days in New Zealand just like a dream, a sweet dream ~
追梦!as journey frz it’s juz wonderful….not much Malaysia willing to give up their job and travel around the world.
@Katie
Haha, 有舍才有得嘛~~
Hi penguin and Katie,
From what I know, it seems that Australia working holiday is not open to Malaysia passport holder yet, is it true?
I’m planning for a working holiday in NZ next year June after I grad, but since it is winter season , so I’m a bit worry about the job vacancies available. Besides, I’m only planning to work there for 3 months, some of my friends who have been there claimed that we can’t really able to cover the expenses working in such short period as the accommodation per week already costs around 100 NZ. I have read through your blog reagarding the salary part as well. So I have considered switching my plan to Australia as I don’t really like winter season. However from what I know, it is far more difficult to get a job in Australia and I’m not sure whether Malaysian is eligible for the Working Holiday plan.
Hope to get some advices from you since we only have once in a life chance to apply for working holiday in Nz, thanks ya =)
p/s: You may reply me in my email.
@Jia
Actually i knew the AU working holiday open to malaysian from the au immigration site, you may check out more from it. If you only work 2-3 months , that really not much for you to cover your travel expenses, but that better than nothing.
Hello. I’m enjoy reading your blog here. You describe quite detail about working holiday in nz.
May i know how can i get in the lily bud packhouse? Through contractor?? or walk in register?? and website or phone number can provide? and where is it?
I’m in Tauranga now. Planning go south island around June. Hope can hear from you soon. Thank you
Hello
I’m quite interest with this article. May i know how to get in this lily bulbs packhouse?? Through contractor or walk in?? any website or phone number provide??
Hope can hear from you soon. Thank you
@Charlene
Lily pack house is located at Rakaia, half way to Asburton from christchurch.
That time we email them to ask for vacancy.
You can find the jobs from http://www.seasonaljobs.co.nz/
Hi!
Seen like every1 also more prefer NZ Working Holiday than AUS Working Holiday ya!
Hope you guys & gals really enjoy the NZ culture with 6month NZ WHS ya.
No matter how bad our country culture , here still the place we born, right?
Anyway, try enjoy the NZ WHS life seen you are young.I’m 100% sure you wont regret in your life. But is 1 of the nice memory in your life that never forget.
Katie!
“not much Malaysian willing to give up their job and travel around the world.”
I can tell you, now a day our Malaysian New Generation was change, they know what they want and what they should grab it when they was young.
If you dont believe, pls visit here:
http://www.facebook.com/NZWHS.FansClub
(Just for NZ Working Holiday ONLY)
Cheers! Kia Ora! Aotearoa!