Living the life of a 'grey nomad'

Mark Partridge and his wife, Ayano, prefer life on the road and say you can make a decent living doing seasonal work around the country.

Carol and Ray Dyer may be in their mid-70s but the sprightly pensioners are sought-after workers in the kiwifruit industry.

They are the new generation of "grey nomads" who travel the country in motorhomes, buses and caravans, picking up employment along the way.

The Wellington couple have been on the road for eight years, doing seasonal jobs in orchards and vineyards in Central Otago and at a pine tree plantation at Amberley in North Canterbury.

It is their first stint at Trevelyan's in Te Puke but they have already settled into roles at the pack house - Carol is weighing fruit and Jim is making trays.

The duo are also parked up at the camping ground, within walking distance to work, and believe they are living the dream.

"We decided, while we were fit and able, we would travel and work," Carol said.

"Retirement homes are holding pens and we didn't want to end up in one of those. This lifestyle has kept us young."

Their children were supportive and said, "sell your house and go do it".

New Zealand Motorhome Association member Mr Dyer said it was nice to be able to make some money and they had met amazing people along the way.

"I like that we can just get up and go and have a different view every day if we want."

Trevelyan's human resource manager, Jodi Johnstone, said they actively chased the "mature worker".

"They are described as the grey nomads. It's the people that are retired or finished their working life and have chosen to travel around the country doing seasonal fruit picking or similar jobs."

That age bracket was targeted because such people were older, experienced and reliable, she said.

"You don't have to worry about them because they make good decisions and turn up for work."

Camp manager Sandy Lynn said the campsite, which included backpacker-type accommodation in three houses, was booked out and sought-after.

"We have a waiting list because it is that popular."

She has been in charge for three years and says she loves the people and the family orientated atmosphere of the camp. "It really is a cool atmosphere, at the beginning of the season we had a little bit of a concert and a shared dinner. We had musicians playing their guitars and a sing-along, it was really neat."

Meeting others from different countries was another highlight, she said.

Mark Partridge left life as a fireman in Kaitaia and spent three years with his wife, Ayano, in Japan before deciding to hit the road.

They are quality-control officers on the nightshift and have been seasonal workers at Trevelyan's for two years.

In 2014, the couple spent three months in Alexandra, where Ayano graded cherries and Mark shot birds that tried to eat the fruit, before picking blueberries at Te Awamutu.

Life on the move does not faze them and Mark said there was a lot of work in New Zealand if you were prepared not to have a permanent contract.

"The wages vary, depending on where you go, but I love the life. We have met some wonderful people."

No stranger to enclosed spaces, Mark lived on a bus when he first met Ayano and the couple were also members of the New Zealand Motorhome Caravan Association.

They felt Trevelyan's camp was a bit like the Ritz. "It is one of the best in the country, we have worked and been stuck out in paddocks before. This has all the proper facilities."