Want to earn at least $22 an hour? Kiwifruit packhouses up rates 27 Feb, 2021 11:00 PM 6 minutes to read Packhouses in the Bay of Plenty including EastPack have increased their starting rates to attract staff. Photo / Supplied Packhouses in the Bay of Plenty including EastPack have increased their starting rates to attract staff. Photo / Supplied Kiwifruit packhouses are offering workers more money and flexible shifts in a desperate effort to avoid a labour crisis as another record-breaking harvest looms. The harvest is expected to kick off within the week with 23,000 seasonal workers needed nationally - including about 20,000 in the Bay of Plenty. Packhouses in the Bay of Plenty including EastPack have increased their starting rates to attract staff. Photo / Supplied