Winter
Pruning
Cane and spur pruning across Marlborough — done by experienced RSE crews led by long-tenured team leaders. Quality is consistent block to block, season after season.
- ✓Cane pruning
- ✓Spur pruning
- ✓Trunk renewal
- ✓Bud rubbing
Marlborough · New Zealand · RSE-accredited since 2010
Vineyard contractors in Marlborough,
done properly.
Hillersden Vineyard Services delivers experienced RSE crews for pruning, canopy work, leaf-plucking, harvest support and Ocloc post repair to wine producers across the Wairau, Awatere and Southern Valleys — from the first winter prune to the last summer leaf-pluck.
RSE Accredited
Recognised Seasonal Employer
Since 2010
Local team, local knowledge
NZ Ethical
Member, NZ Ethical Employers
All Marlborough
Wairau · Awatere · Southern
About HVS
Vineyard labour, by people who know vineyards
Hillersden Vineyard Services started in 2010 with a simple promise — bring experienced crews into Marlborough vineyards and do the work properly. Fifteen years on, the same Samoan, PNG and Fijian RSE workers return each season, our team leaders know every block by name, and our growers know they can trust the standard.
We're based in Blenheim and work across the Wairau, Awatere and Southern Valleys. We don't chase volume — we look after a measured number of clients deeply, from a few hectares to multi-block operations, so the workmanship is consistent year over year.
Pastoral care for our workers is part of how we operate, not a compliance afterthought. That's why our crews come back — and why your blocks get the same hands on them every season.
What we do
Vineyard services through the year
From the first winter prune to the last summer leaf-pluck — and the niche jobs in between — we cover the labour your blocks need with crews you can rely on.
Spring & Summer
Canopy management
Wire lifting, leaf-plucking, shoot thinning and lateral removal at the right moments through the growing season to optimise fruit exposure and air flow.
- ✓Wire lifting
- ✓Leaf plucking
- ✓Shoot thinning
- ✓Lateral removal
Year-round
Specialty work
Ocloc post repair (splints broken posts in-row instead of replacement), harvest support, and bespoke jobs where you need a careful crew and a clear plan.
- ✓Ocloc post repair
- ✓Harvest support
- ✓Block clean-ups
- ✓Custom work
The team
The Marlborough vineyard team behind the work
Experienced managers, returning RSE team leaders, and crews who've worked the same Marlborough blocks for years.
Marcus Macdonald
Vineyard Labour & Pastoral Care Manager
Runs day-to-day operations across all client vineyards and oversees the welfare of our RSE crews.
A
Ana Panoho
HR & Office Manager
Handles RSE compliance, accommodation, payroll, and the office — the engine room of HVS.
L
Liua Tavae Vaafusuaga
Vineyard Labour Assistant
Highly experienced pruner and a key part of our leadership team — supports Marcus on the ground.
Tui
Team Leader
Senior team leader with deep experience across Marlborough's wine subregions.
K
Kaleni
Team Leader
Manages crews on assignment and ensures every block is finished to spec.
Plus the RSE team leaders of our Samoan, PNG and Fijian crews who return year after year.
What clients say
Trusted by Marlborough's wine producers
“
Marcus and his team are very experienced, reliable, and easily contactable. The team undertake our pruning and all canopy work through the growing season to a high standard. The RSE lads are like family to us — we would highly recommend HVS for all your labour needs.
Tony & Bobbie
Dry Hills Lane · clients since May 2022
“
We are only a small vineyard but Hillersden takes just as much care of our vines as if we were a much bigger client. The workmanship is professional and efficient. Since we've been using HVS our vines have a better canopy, increased yield and grape quality.
Lynne
Balnaan Vineyard Limited · 4 seasons
Frequently asked
Vineyard contractors, RSE, the lot
The questions Marlborough growers ask us most often.
Are you an accredited RSE employer?+
Yes. Hillersden Vineyard Services is a fully accredited Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) under Immigration New Zealand. Our crews — primarily Samoan, Papua New Guinean and Fijian — return to Marlborough season after season under our pastoral care.
What areas of Marlborough do you cover?+
We work right across the Marlborough wine region — the Wairau Valley, Awatere Valley, Southern Valleys, and around Blenheim, Renwick and Seddon.
What vineyard services do you offer through the year?+
Winter pruning (cane and spur), wire lifting, bud rubbing, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, harvest support, and Ocloc broken-post repair. Full coverage from June through to vintage and back into winter again.
How long has HVS been operating in Marlborough?+
Since 2010. Many of our team leaders and RSE workers have returned every season for over a decade — that continuity is why our work in the rows is consistent year to year.
Do you take on small vineyards or only large clients?+
Both. We work with growers from a few hectares up to large multi-block operations. Small vineyards receive exactly the same care and professionalism as our biggest clients.
What is Ocloc post repair and why does it matter?+
Ocloc is a steel splinting system that lets us repair broken vineyard posts in-row rather than pulling and replacing them. It saves growers thousands of dollars per hectare and keeps blocks productive without disrupting the vines.
How do I get a quote?+
Call Marcus on 021 115 1608, email marcus@hillersdenvs.co.nz, or use the contact form below with your block sizes, work type and timing. We come back within one business day.
Partners & community
Proud sponsor
U16 Marlborough Rugby
Ready to work together?
Let's talk about your vineyard
Whether you need a full-season contract or crews for a specific job, we're ready to discuss what works for your operation.
Get in touch
Direct lines
Office
Hillersden Vineyard Services Ltd
46A Wynen Street
Blenheim 7201
Send us a message
Tell us what you need — block sizes, work type, timing — and we'll come back within one business day.