Pastoral Care Worker

Role Description

Join our team at A B WOOD HOLDINGS in Lower Moutere. We are looking for an empathetic, practical and proactive Pastoral Care Worker to support the wellbeing, health and day-to-day needs of our Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers.

Start date: Employment is expected to commence in late October 2026.

Key pillars of the role

The Pastoral Care worker supports our Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers throughout their time with A B WOOD HOLDINGS, helping them settle into life in New Zealand, remain safe and supported, and access the health, community and practical services they may need.

Worker wellbeing & support

Provide day-to-day pastoral and practical support to our RSE workers, helping them feel welcomed, respected and supported throughout their time with us.

Health & community access

Coordinate appointments, assist with transport for healthcare services, and help RSE workers access appropriate community, cultural and support services.

Liaison & orientation

Act as a trusted link between RSE workers, orchard management and relevant service providers, including supporting inductions, accommodation matters and ongoing pastoral care needs.

Caring for the people behind our orchard

At A B WOOD HOLDINGS, our orchard relies on the hard work of people from across New Zealand and the Pacific throughout the year. We take pride in providing genuine pastoral care and practical support to help our team feel safe, supported and able to do their best — both at work and while living in our community.

What pastoral care means in this role

Under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, employers are required to provide pastoral care support to RSE workers while they are in New Zealand.

In this role, pastoral care means helping workers settle into life in New Zealand and making sure they can access the support they need during the season. This includes arrival and induction support, accommodation matters, medical appointments, insurance or ACC processes, banking or practical day-to-day issues, and communication between workers, management, supervisors, health providers, and other support services.

Pastoral care does not mean doing everything for workers. A key part of the role is helping workers understand where to go for help, supporting them to access the right services, and escalating serious or urgent matters to management when needed.

Core responsibilities & day-to-day tasks

Duties include:

  • Supporting RSE workers with day-to-day pastoral care needs
  • Helping workers understand appointments, paperwork, insurance, ACC, and other support processes
  • Assisting with transport for workers to medical appointments, pharmacy visits, welfare appointments, and other approved support needs using a company vehicle, including vans
  • Communicating clearly with management, supervisors, workers, health providers, and other support services
  • Carrying out regular accommodation checks
  • Cleaning worker accommodation areas 
  • General garden and outdoor maintenance work around accommodation sites
  • Helping keep accommodation areas tidy, safe, and well-presented
  • Keeping clear records and reporting issues to management
  • Escalating serious, urgent, or sensitive matters to management as required

Key requirements

The successful applicant must:

  • Hold a current full driver licence
  • Be confident driving a company vehicle, including vans
  • Be able to assist with transport for medical appointments and other agreed worker support needs
  • Be physically able to safely carry out cleaning, bending, lifting light to moderate items, gardening, and general outdoor work
  • Be kind, practical, calm, and reliable
  • Be respectful of worker privacy and confidentiality
  • Communicate well with people from different cultures
  • Be able to work independently and use good judgement
  • Be flexible and able to respond appropriately when urgent worker welfare matters arise
  • Be confident using a phone, email, and basic record-keeping systems

What we are looking for

No two days are the same. Some days may be focused on accommodation checks, cleaning, gardening, or general support tasks. Other days may involve responding to worker illness, injury, urgent medical appointments, or other welfare matters that require immediate attention.

The role requires someone who can adapt quickly, as urgent worker welfare matters can arise without warning and may become the priority for the day.

Someone who understands the importance of clear boundaries, confidentiality, and calm communication.

High-trust position

This is a position of high trust. The successful applicant will be working closely with our RSE workers and may be involved in sensitive welfare, medical, transport, and accommodation matters.

To help ensure our workers are supported by someone suitable for this level of responsibility, appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Ministry of Justice criminal record check.

 

Skills and experience that would be an advantage

It would be an advantage if the applicant:

  • Has experience supporting people from Pacific Island communities
  • Can speak Samoan, Tongan, Solomon Islands Pijin, or another Pacific language
  • Has experience in pastoral care, health support, community support, accommodation support, cleaning, horticulture, or seasonal workforce support

Physical requirements

This role includes practical accommodation and outdoor work. Applicants must be able to safely carry out tasks such as standing, walking, bending, cleaning, lifting light to moderate items, and basic garden work.

Hours

This is a full-time position.

The nature of the work will vary depending on seasonal demands and RSE worker support needs. During quieter pastoral care periods, hours will be made up through accommodation cleaning, garden work, and other agreed support tasks.

Flexibility is essential, as pastoral care needs can change quickly and urgent situations may arise outside normal working hours.

First Aid

First Aid training will be completed during employment. Applicants who already hold a current First Aid Certificate are welcome to note this in their application.

To apply

Please complete the form below to apply. 

Eligibility to apply
This position is only open to applicants who are:

  • New Zealand citizens
  • New Zealand permanent residents
  • Australian citizens

Applications from temporary visa holders will not be accepted.









Declaration
I confirm that the information provided in this application is true and correct. I understand that proof of my right to work in New Zealand, a satisfactory Ministry of Justice criminal record check, and other pre-employment checks relevant to the role may be required before employment begins.

Please note: We appreciate your interest in joining A B WOOD HOLDINGS. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.