Estonian tourist Mihkel Kormasov has used up a large chunk of a year-long-stay in New Zealand doing seasonal work in Ōpōtiki.

Now booked to fly to Thailand in a few days, he says he’s had a great time.

“I enjoy working in kiwifruit and I’ve a deeper connection with both the land and the people, having come back to the same place twice,” Mr Kormasov said.

The 31-year-old traveller applied for a 12-month working holiday visa when he was near the age limit for doing so.

His partner, Saara, an art gallery manager, encouraged him as she had travelled and worked in New Zealand about eight years prior.

“Canada didn’t interest me, Australia has too many snakes, but New Zealand seemed exclusive, being as far away as I could go.

“I applied and got one of the 300 seasonal work visas offered each year.”

Mr Kormasov’s trip started on the South Island, where his first job was working at a hotel in the centre of Queenstown.

On days off he enjoyed hiking, but – since Estonia is a flat country – cycling the Around the Mountains Trail was a challenge.

He has enjoyed travelling in both islands, noting vast differences when comparing the scenery of each.

He obtained work in Ōpōtiki, first picking kiwifruit, and more recently thinning and pruning vines.

He said Estonians were well used to hard physical work.

Though they had experienced urbanisation like all countries, there remained a tradition of families joining together to harvest potatoes and other crops.

“Here I have enjoyed picking kiwifruit most of all; it’s more of a physical challenge than pruning.”

Soon, he and his partner will meet in Bangkok for a short holiday in Southeast Asia.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Ōpōtiki and know the streets quite well. The beaches and Hukutaia Domain were awesome.

“Many of the sights are far removed from what I am used to – for example I have never seen so many dogs wandering without owners.

“When I see one roaming, I cross to the other side of the road. What can I say, I am a cat person.”

Due to leave town on November 15, Mr Kormasov has not managed to try his hand at golf, a game reserved for the wealthy in Estonia. He would also love to try diving.

He said people living in Estonia and the other Baltic States were under pressure due to war in Ukraine.

“It’s not as black and white as it first seemed. We’re a small country, only 1.4 million people, roughly the same geographic size as the Netherlands.

“We have no interest in being part of a war.

“Wars are never about what common people want, are they. Given the choice we’d all stay out of them.”

He said he was thankful to friends Mandeep, Eretini, Ui and the entire team at Sybton Horticulture.  

“It was a pleasure working with them all and many thanks to Parminder and Sabbi.

“I’ll miss you all and hope we meet again.”