Work in New Zealand
Jobs
Got itchy feet? Stick them in some ski boots or jandals (flip flops to non-Kiwis). Get a head start finding work and a place to live – not just when you arrive, but for the whole of your visa.
What jobs can I do in New Zealand?
A New Zealand working holiday visa gives you the freedom to work anywhere, in any sector and for the full 12 months of your visa. While it’s possible to find more long-term career-focused work on your working holiday, typical backpacker jobs in New Zealand include hospitality, tourism, labouring, ski resort work, retail, sales, temping, and fruit picking/harvest work on farms and vineyards. This kind of short-term casual work is usually un-contracted, making it ideal to pick up as and when you need to earn.
Above the paygrade
New Zealand has one of the highest minimum wages in the world – currently NZD $22.70 an hour. The cost of drinking and eating out can be high, but when the average cost of a hostel bed is around $30 a night or $650 a month for a room in a shared house, the maths still add up if you’re working to fund the next part of your trip. Plus, hospitality and harvest jobs often include subsidised housing, which is a good way to stay social and save up.
How we help BUNAC job support
After the comprehensive job support in your first week, our BUNAC team in Auckland are on hand to help for the whole of your working holiday visa. Plus, you’ll have access to our job database, email alerts and job listings for 12 months. Laughing all the way to the bank. (We also help to set you up with a New Zealand bank account too). Our Essential and Ultimate options include the below job support.
What we include
- Detailed job-hunting and travel planning workshop when you arrive.
- 12-month access to our working holiday resource centre in Auckland.
- New Zealand bank account, IRD (tax) number set up and New Zealand SIM.
- Weekly jobs email and long-term accommodation support.
- Mail holding and forwarding support.
- 24-hour emergency hotline.
- Support for the duration of your trip.
For the full accommodation and trip inclusions, and a day-by-day itinerary, click here.
Why you need it
The ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand is 10:1. Our point? New Zealand is small – with a population of around 5 million people. So, while there’s plenty of work available, the job market can be competitive and finding work can take time and persistence. Basically, this is no time to be sheepish (sorry). It’s time to get ahead of the game. We connect you with the best resources and in-country partners to optimise your employment opportunities, so that you can start earning straightaway or as soon as you’re ready.
The backpacker board
Who said an office had to have walls. Our Ultimate and Essential travellers get access to job listings for the whole duration of their trip. Here are some of the most popular jobs that employers will be recruiting for once borders reopen.
- Summer staff for the Waiomu Beach Café
- Sea kayak guide in Cathedral Cove
- Vineyard work in Blenheim
- Camping ground assistants in Lake Waihola
- Barista in Paihia, Bay of Islands
- Fruit Picker in the Bay of Plenty
- Duty manager and bar staff in Queenstown
- Admin assistant in Christchurch
- Handyman in Nelson
- Nanny in Otago, Queenstown or Wanaka
In-between jobs?
Spontaneous road trips, white water rafting, boozy wine trails. In-between your working holiday jobs, add some of these must-dos to your wander list.
