Work in New Zealand

New Zealand, with its stunning landscapes, friendly communities, and vibrant culture, is a top destination for Working Holiday Visa (WHV) holders. If you are looking for a job in New Zealand, it is important to do it right! Indeed, finding a job in a foreign country with potentially a foreign language requires a minimum of preparation and organization!

The Working Holiday Visa (WHV)

The Working Holiday Visa lets young people from over 45 countries (including the UK, France, Germany, Canada and the USA) travel and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months or 23 months for Canadians and up to 36 months for UK passport holders.

To apply, you must:

• Be aged 18 to 30 (or up to 35 for some nationalities, including the UK, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia and Uruguay)
• Hold a passport valid for the length of your stay (some schemes require 15+ months’ validity)
• Show access to about NZ$4,200 in funds for your stay (the UK scheme uses a different rule: NZ$350 for each month of your planned stay)
• Provide a return ticket, or prove you can afford one
• Have comprehensive medical insurance for your whole stay
• Meet health and character requirements

Applications are submitted online via Immigration New Zealand, and most are processed within 20 working days. Some nationalities have annual quotas (e.g. certain European and South American countries), so apply early when applications open each year.

💡 Cost: the WHV fee starts from around NZ$770 (including levies), and varies by nationality. Always check the fee shown in your Immigration NZ application, as it’s the authoritative amount.

Finding a job in New Zealand

Coming to work in New Zealand therefore offers many opportunities and even more favorable conditions than before.

To be sure to find a job, adjust your search to the seasons and the climate. In summer, favor tourist areas such as Mount Maunganui, Kaikoura or Bay of Islands. In winter, focus your research on ski resorts such as Wanaka, Queenstown or Mount Cook.

The job opportunities are many and varied, but it can sometimes be more complicated to find a qualified job that matches your profile. This is the main reason why many backpackers choose a less skilled job during their WHV in New Zealand. Here is a non-exhaustive selection of the different job opportunities in New Zealand.

Work in hospitality and Tourism

With New Zealand’s thriving tourism industry, there are plenty of openings in hotels, restaurants, bars and tourist attractions — especially in hotspots like Queenstown, Rotorua and Auckland.

Roles range from receptionist and waiter to kitchen assistant, dishwasher, bartender or barista. These jobs are generally well paid, from around NZ$24–27/hour + tips, with higher rates in the evenings, on weekends and on public holidays.

For a first experience, working in a restaurant lets you clock up plenty of hours and save money fast.

Agriculture and Horticulture

Seasonal work in fruit picking, vineyard work, and other farming activities is popular among WHV holders. Regions like Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Marlborough often need seasonal workers.

It is possible to do it all year round, it is a sector that recruits regardless of the season. Be careful, it is often a job paid by the weight or bucket, with long hours, which can be exhausting. On the other hand, it allows you to earn a good amount of money in a short time. Kiwi, avocados, grapes, apples, peaches, pears, you will easily find a farm looking for labor.

Working with Animals

You may not know it, but New Zealand has around 25 million sheep, roughly five per person! Farmers and shepherds often take on backpackers or WWOOFers to help care for their animals. And for fishing lovers, New Zealand is paradise, many operators hire young people to help out.

Au pair / Nanny

In exchange for accommodation, food and usually NZ$300–400 pocket money per week, you look after a family’s children. It’s a great way to improve your English fast while keeping your accommodation and food costs down.

Retail jobs

Many WHV holders find employment in retail, working in shops, supermarkets, and malls across the country. You can find jobs in big and small cities and in a variety of shops.

Skilled jobs (in-demand sectors)

New Zealand needs skilled labour in several fields. If your qualifications are recognised in New Zealand, you may be able to work in your area of expertise. Examples include:

• Construction (painter, tiler, welder, etc.)
• IT (web design, social media, etc.)
• Engineering
• Education
• Tourism
• Trade & craft
• Healthcare

🪙 Minimum wage: NZ$23.95 per hour (adult rate, since 1 April 2026).

Remote work on a Visitor Visa

Since January 2025, travellers on a Visitor Visa can legally work remotely for an overseas employer for up to 90 days — ideal for digital nomads, freelancers and content creators, as long as the work is for a non-New Zealand company.

• Stay in New Zealand for up to 6 months
• No local employment allowed
• Great for backpackers, vanlifers and remote workers
• 💸 Visitor Visa fee: around NZ$341, plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Levy (IVL)

Internship in New Zealand

To prove yourself after your studies or to have a first approach to the country, you may wish to do an internship in New Zealand. The internship is considered a volunteer observation experience in a company. This explains why most are unpaid or simply offer a small compensation.

Note: you’ll need a specific visa — the Student and Trainee Visa. To get it, you must be a student, your school or university must validate the internship, and the placement must match your field of study.

Volunteering in New Zealand

Volunteering is common practice in New Zealand. Having one or more volunteer experiences in New Zealand can be useful as it is often highly appreciated by recruiters. Many associations are looking for volunteers to lend a hand.

Wwoofing

Wwoofing is a very popular practice around the world. The principle is simple, you are housed and fed in exchange for a few hours of work per day. Your hosts provide you with a roof (caravan, room, tent…) and feed you. In exchange you help them in the management of the property. To access all the contacts, you need to register on the Wwoofing website: wwoof.nz (paid registration).

HelpX

HelpExchange is a program based on the same principle as Wwoofing. To access the ads and hosts details, you need to be a member to access the proposed ads. You can work on a farm, a ranch, a property in exchange for a roof and meals. Register at: www.helpx.net

WorkAway

The idea is the same, you work a few hours for accommodation and food. This cultural exchange program connects volunteers with hosts from all over New Zealand, providing a wide range of experiences, from helping out on organic farms, assisting in family-run businesses, to participating in conservation projects. It’s an excellent way for individuals on a Working Holiday Visa or those simply looking to extend their stay in New Zealand affordably, to learn new skills, meet locals and other travelers, and explore the country’s stunning landscapes.

Before you can work in New Zealand

A work visa

First of all, you will need a work visa to work in the country. Indeed, a simple tourist visa does not allow you to work legally. Here is a selection of the main temporary work visas:

• Working Holiday Visa (see above)
• Student Visa: lets students work up to 25 hours per week during term time (a 2026 increase from 20 hours), and full-time during scheduled holidays. Proof of funds is around NZ$20,000/year for living costs, and the application fee is roughly NZ$850.
• Post Study Work Visa: lets you work for any employer in any sector after studying in New Zealand. Eligibility depends on your level and length of study — check the current rules, as this scheme has changed in recent years.

Admin tasks

Before even looking for a job, you must:

• Get a New Zealand phone number
• Open a New Zealand bank account
• Have an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number
• Write a CV with New Zealand standards
• Get a New Zealand phone number.

Get a NZ phone number

Head to one of the mobile providers (One NZ, Spark, 2degrees, Skinny) and choose a phone and plan that suits your budget.

• Prepay: no lock-in, cancel anytime; credit usually includes calls, texts and data.
• Pay as you go: you pay per call, text or MB — best if you don’t use much data.

Get health Insurance

Whether you’re on a student visa, an expat, or a WHV, it’s strongly recommended to arrive with good health insurance. Healthcare costs in New Zealand are very high, a single hospital visit can cost a fortune. Count on more than NZ$1,000 per day in hospital, and around NZ$200 for a simple X-ray.

Also read: Backpacker Travel Insurance

Open a bank account

New Zealand’s five major banks are ASB, ANZ, BNZ, Kiwibank and Westpac. They all have ATMs across the country, most offer a free everyday account, and all have a mobile app.

You can pre-open a bank account from your home country, but you’ll usually need an appointment with an adviser once you arrive to activate it.

Important: to open an account you’ll need proof of a New Zealand address, in addition to your passport and visa. Just ask your hostel or wherever you’re staying.

🧾 What is an IRD number and why do you need it?

Before starting any job in New Zealand, you must apply for an IRD number – your personal tax identification number issued by Inland Revenue (the New Zealand tax office). This number ensures your employer can pay you legally and deduct the correct amount of tax from your wages.

Applying is free and done online, and you’ll need:

• A valid passport
• Your working holiday or other visa details
• A New Zealand address (can be temporary)
• Your bank account number (NZ-based)

Apply as soon as you arrive — you can’t be paid without one. Processing usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, and once issued, your IRD number stays with you for life.

🔗 Apply online: ird.govt.nz

Write a New Zealand-style CV

A detailed CV is appreciated in New Zealand. Explain what each role taught you and the skills you developed. A typical NZ CV is ordered like this:

• Header: full name, email and phone number. No need to mention your age or visa — it can work against you.
• Personal profile: a short paragraph on who you are and what you’re looking for.
• Skills: communication, software proficiency, languages spoken.
• Work experience: lead with your job title (rather than the employer’s name), then summarise your responsibilities.
• Interests: a few words on your hobbies, to give a sense of your personality.
• Referees: one of the most important sections for NZ employers — list the phone numbers and emails of former employers who can vouch for you (make sure they can speak English).

Tips for Working in NZ

• Apply early — spots are limited for some nationalities
• Tailor your CV to New Zealand standards, highlighting relevant experience and skills. Keep it concise and to the point.
• Sort your IRD number before starting work
• Websites like Seek, Trade Me Jobs, and Backpacker Board are excellent resources for finding job listings suitable for WHV holders.
• Seasonal jobs fill up quickly (e.g. fruit picking in summer).

How to find a job in NZ?

Useful websites

Once your resume has been finished to New Zealand standards, here are some sites to start looking for work:
www.backpackerboard.co.nz
www.trademe.co.nz
nz.indeed.com/

Door-to-door

Armed with your best smile and some printed CVs, visit businesses in person, cafés and restaurants especially. Ask to see the manager, briefly explain what you’re after, and hand over your CV.

Recruitment agencies

In the big cities such as Auckland and Christchurch there are many recruitment agencies that you can register with. The recruitment agencies will keep all your details on file and if they find a job that would suit your experience, they will contact you on behalf of the employer. You can register with recruitment agencies online or face-to-face.

Word of mouth

Talk to the people you meet and spark up a conversation about looking for work in New Zealand. Often, they will share their experience or know someone who is looking for an employee. If you stay in hostel, do not hesitate to chat with other travellers, they might be or have been in a similar situation and could give you some hot tips!

Working conditions

Wages

The minimum wage in New Zealand is NZ$23.95 per hour (adult rate, since 1 April 2026). Unlike much of Europe, wages are paid weekly or fortnightly, it’s a bit confusing at first, but rent is also paid weekly, so you get used to it fast.

Types of contracts

There are several types of employment contracts in New Zealand:

• Full time: A contract of 40+ hours a week, with most of the time, fixed hours each week.
• Part-time: A part-time contract carries out fewer hours than a full-time position, usually 20-30 hours per week. It is possible to have a couple of part-time jobs at the same time however; it does require lots of organisation and you must have regular fixed rosters for each job.
• Contract Job / Temporary Job / Fixed term job: A contract that has a designated term of work, whether it is over a few weeks or months. For example, fruit picking or a relief role for someone who has taken annual leave.
• Casual job: A contract that is the equivalent of a French extra contract. Your rosters are not always the same, each week is different and there is not a guaranteed number of hours. However, that does not mean that you will work few hours. It is quite possible to do as many hours as someone in full-time position.

Holidays

As you work, you accrue paid leave. Full-time workers are entitled to 4 weeks of paid annual leave. For casual roles this is sometimes paid out with each pay (“Casual Holiday Pay”), meaning you won’t be paid separately when you take time off.

Note that the main holiday period in New Zealand runs from mid-December to mid-January (the NZ summer holidays).