Nectarine thinning and irrigation: Lilian Coumbe, 19

Working outside and the availability of long hours were drawcards for Lilian Coumbe.

The health psychology student at Victoria University in Wellington works each summer to save for rent and other living costs.

“I prefer not to work when I am studying so was looking for something that gave me good hours,” she said.

“Also, I was inside for my last job so wanted to be outside in the fresh air these holidays.”

Fruit thinning — removing excess or damaged fruit to improve the size and quality of what’s left — is a rite of passage for most living in Hawke’s Bay and surrounding areas.

“Everyone knows someone who has an orchard or has picked or thinned fruit at some stage,” Coumbe said.

“I don’t think it’s that hard physically, but it is long hours.”

This summer, Coumbe will live at home with her parents and head to work for a 7am start, finishing about 4.30pm.

The work is weatherdependent though and there is no pay when it rains.

Young entrepreneur: Amelie Coggan, 15

Facebook, Instagram and other platforms have paved the way for budding entrepreneurs to start a business before leaving school.

They usually involve something creative — from homemade candles and soap to Covid-inspired masks.

Amelie Coggan’s business Little Joys started as a fundraiser. The Christchurch student sold the clay charms to fund a school trip to France.

The trip was cancelled because of Covid, but Amelie kept making the trinkets, each with a message offering inspiration during the pandemic.

Before New Zealand entered lockdown Amelie was selling her charms, encased in little glass jars, in local stores.

When physical shops had to close, she put them online.

“This really took off when we did a post on the Facebook page Chooice,” Amelie said.

“Now we are on Instagram and Facebook and we have almost 6000 Facebook followers.”

Since lockdown, Amelie has filled more than 900 online orders. Each piece takes anything from 10-30 minutes to make.

“I also have to take time to come up with the messages on the labels which can take a while depending on whether I’m in the mood to be creative,” she said.

Amelie has made changes to her product as her business has grown, including swapping glass jars for plastic jars for the safety of smaller children.

“I would love to expand my range of products and come up with more higher-value products to sell so that I can make a living out of this. I am so lucky that my favourite hobby has turned into my way of making money.”