Kō wai mātou? Who are we?

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 opportunity?

We have an R&D Sustainable Packaging internship project kickstarting in November 2024, and are looking for a keen individual who is wanting to gain kiwifruit industry experience in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and apply their studies in a commercial environment. You will have the opportunity to dive into an exciting business based project, and grow your understanding of the kiwifruit industry, the R&D environment of a corporate organisation, and develop professional skills along the way.

The Project: Sustainable Packaging

As global regulations on packaging waste tighten, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems are becoming increasingly crucial. These systems require brand owners to take responsibility for the waste their packaging generates. Depending on the region, this may involve compliance with guidelines, labelling mandates, or regulated fees tied to material choices and recyclability—known as Eco Modulation. Your task will be to research and analyze the EPR rules and eco modulation practices across 16 of our key markets. Using this information, you’ll forecast future costs based on our packaging innovation pipeline, helping Zespri stay ahead of the curve in sustainable packaging.

Key Responsibilities:

• Capture fees and eco modulation rules for different material types across various markets.
• Calculate benchmarks based on current packaging specifications.
• Create an Excel model to regularly forecast fees as new packaging innovations are introduced.
• Present your findings to Zespri staff and compile a comprehensive written report.

By the end of this project, you'll deliver a detailed presentation and report that will directly influence Zespri's packaging strategy, making a tangible impact on our sustainability goals.

Program dates: Wednesday 27th Nov 2024 – Friday 14th Feb 2025. Please note; you need to be able to commit for the entire duration of the internship.

He aha e tika ai a Zespri? Why Zespri?

You will be based in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, a great place to spend the summer. Beaches, Mauao (Mount Maunganui) , 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.

Me pehea te tono? How do I apply?

Please send through your CV and a one-page cover letter. To be eligible to apply you 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.

Tono mai inaianei!


At Zespri, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences, and a fair hiring process is the first step to getting there. We want to attract a diverse range of people and encourage everyone from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments to take part in the recruitment and selection process. You can reach out to our Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@zespri.com to have a chat to someone directly.