Welcoming Our Workaways

Image by Elias

This harvest, Titoki Vineyards was fortunate to host a great group of Workaways from around the world. For a week, Elias, Jana, and Louis from Germany, Jenny from the United States, and Dylan from New Zealand joined us on the vineyard, bringing energy, curiosity, and plenty of enthusiasm to the harvest. Later in the season, Mayu from Japan also joined us for the final days, helping pick the last of the Sauvignon Blanc and bringing the 2026 harvest to a close.

The week was full of shared experiences, both in and out of the vineyard. Alongside the work, the group explored local highlights like Putangirua Pinnacles, Patuna Chasm, watched a New Zealand aurora, dealt with a few pesky possums (a well-known local pest), and even made it along to a live rugby game. It gave them a real taste of life in New Zealand, alongside learning how a harvest moves from grape to wine.

Mealtimes were a big part of the week with dishes from different cultures coming together around Tītoki’s table. These moments gave everyone a chance to relax, talk, and get to know each other beyond the vineyard work.

Lisa and Craig really enjoyed sharing their vineyard and a bit of New Zealand life with the group, as well as learning about everyone’s backgrounds and experiences. It was a busy, rewarding time built around teamwork, good conversation, and new connections.

A big thank you to this group, for their hard work, positive attitude, and the energy brought to the harvest. Elias’s photos capture the spirit of the harvest well — plenty of teamwork, laughter, and shared experience.

Eilas’ & Lisas camera contents