New Zealand is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, however, the great job offer in this country has put it in the sights of those looking to get a better job. In other words, to improve their quality of life. If you are wondering how to work in New Zealand, you have found the right article for you.

New Zealand is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, however, the great job offer in this country has put it in the sights of those looking to get a better job. In other words, to improve their quality of life. If you are wondering how to work in New Zealand, you have found the right article for you. 

City where you want to work

Just as you would in any other country, the first thing to do is to choose which city you hope to work in. Jobs in New Zealand do not usually change from city to city, but there may be variations depending on the season or the tourist attraction of the city you are in. 

If, for example, you are in a city near one of the country's beaches, it is likely that you will find it easier to find a job in the tourist area, in a store specialized in surfing or similar, as opposed to central cities where you will find office jobs, in a shopping mall or a cafe. However, all over the country there are jobs for foreigners.

Auckland

Known as the city of sails, this port city is positioned among the first when thinking about job offers in New Zealand for foreigners. This city has an economy based on all kinds of business, since it is considered the commercial capital of the country. The great majority of international companies have offices in its territory, which is an advantage. 

If you are looking for a job in New Zealand without knowing English, this may be your opportunity, since the number of vacancies is such that the requirements of the establishments are becoming fewer and fewer. This has generated a great employment opportunity for foreigners, who find in the country a more reliable way of living than the one they had in their country of origin. 

Wellington

The capital of the country can be a good opportunity to work in New Zealand without knowing English or with a very low level of English given the huge demand for work in this city. Wellington is not only a port city of great importance, but also one of the most full of offers for foreigners.

Some of the jobs you can get in this city can be kitchen assistant, sales clerk, bartender. In addition, in this region of the country the fishing industry is of great importance for both consumers and fishermen themselves. Getting a job in Wellington is somewhat easier than in other parts of the country, especially during vacations.

Queenstown

This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand and some consider it the adventure capital of the world. The adventure industry has established itself in this city offering attractions such as skydiving, speedboat rides and bungy jumping, and these become very crowded during the high tourist season, which expands job offers.

Among this industry you can get the best paying jobs in New Zealand due to its great attractiveness. However, when dealing directly with clients, it is necessary to have a good command of the English language, which is the official language spoken in this country. 

Christchurch

This is the epicenter of architecture in New Zealand, showcasing beautiful buildings, as well as iconic art galleries and amazing museums that leave visitors wanting to visit again just to appreciate their structural design. It has earned its place as one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit and experience culture first hand.

This is good news if you have experience in the construction industry or have just graduated from the industry. Construction companies are constantly looking for new blood for their training, from bricklayers to operations managers, making it one of the best paying jobs in New Zealand for foreigners and residents in general. 

Nelson

This is the alpha and omega in terms of art in this country. It is the proud host of the Fine Arts Festival, where the best local and international artisans and artists gather, exhibiting and making their artistic expressions known to those who attend the event. Likewise, the city itself serves as a huge gallery of living art.

If you have experience in this type of activity, whatever your artistic expression, you will most likely find the best job offers in New Zealand for foreigners, as there will always be someone willing to pay for it. Also, specialized art stores, paint shops and others are always looking for foreign staff, which pay well. 

Tauranga

Tauranga's growth has been one of the fastest in recent years due to the fact that the inhabitants of the oceanic country have been looking for more economical housing options in this great city. However, this huge space hosts a large number of tourists due to the activities related to surfing, not to mention the typical gastronomy. 

As in any part of the world, as there is a considerable amount of tourism this presents a secure employment opportunity, as more and more establishments are opening to cater to visitors. Among these establishments you can find surf stores, cafes, restaurants and gift stores. You can also look for employment in the city center. 

Rotorua

But to speak of New Zealand tourism is, without a doubt, to speak of this city surrounded by geysers and hot springs, the main tourist attraction of the region and which are due to the volcanic activity that takes place in their lands.

As in the previous locations, tourism is the main source of employment here. If you are coming from Argentina, this is an excellent opportunity, since jobs in New Zealand are generally available for Argentines, regardless of their level of English, since the demand for personnel is usually higher than in the rest of the country. 

New Zealand work visa

Before you think about packing your suitcase and becoming part of the New Zealand labor system, it is important that you know one of the most important requirements to work in New Zealand: the work visa. This is nothing more than a legal permit granted to those who wish to seek employment in the Oceanic country, especially to recent graduates of some of the country's universities.

La visa de trabajo en Nueva Zelanda se puede dividir en dos: la Work and Holidays y la visa de trabajo. Dependiendo de cuál sea tu situación puedes solicitar una u otra para poder formar parte de la bolsa de empleo.

Recibe orientación sobre tu futuro en Nueva Zelanda por parte de un asesor de Educonnecting. Deja tus datos:

Work and Holidays visa

The Working Holidays New Zealand visa is a special permission to enter the country that is granted to those students who are studying a degree in the country and wish to spend their academic vacations working to generate extra income, either in the work area of the career they are studying or in the aforementioned tourism industry.

With the approval of this visa you will be allowed to study and work at the same time, having vacation possibilities. This is one of the requirements to work in New Zealand, but in order to apply for this visa you must be between 18 and 30 years old, you must not bring small children with you and in case you have a partner, he/she must apply for his/her own visa. 

Work Visa

Depending on your needs and objectives you can apply for this visa on a permanent or temporary basis and for this, like the previous one, you must apply through the official website of the New Zealand consulate or by contacting directly to their offices located in your country of origin. It is important that you make your intentions clear in the interview to avoid inconveniences.

Although the requirements may vary according to the work activity you wish to perform, in general what is required is to be in good health, not to have criminal records and to demonstrate your genuine desire to work in New Zealand. In addition, one of the requirements that is not usually mentioned is a good command of English, but this will depend on the type of job you are applying for. 

New Zealand Business Visas

While it is true that the above are the two main work visas in New Zealand, it is also worth mentioning the little mentioned business visa. This is granted to those investors and businessmen who wish to invest in the country and live in it permanently to guarantee the results of their company or those who plan to live their retirement within the territory. 

This visa is divided according to the financial activities, being the most common the entrepreneur visa, the investor visa and the business transferee visa. In the interview for this procedure you must express your intentions and declare the type of business to invest in the country and thus know what type of visa you will be authorized according to your economic activities. 

Curriculum

When looking for a job, regardless of the country where you are going to apply, the first thing you have to take into account is to present your resume. Keep in mind that New Zealand, as well as the vast majority of Anglo-Saxon countries, has its standards for this, mainly the lack of photo identification.

This is one of the main requirements to work in New Zealand, whether you are a New Zealander or a foreigner. Some of the elements that your resume should have in this part of the globe are the following that we show you below:

• ⮚ Written in full English: Since English is one of the official languages of New Zealand, it is clear that your CV must be written perfectly in this language. This can be a limitation if you are looking to work in New Zealand without knowing English, although you can ask someone to write it for you.
• No photo: In Hispanic countries it is customary to attach a passport-sized photograph to the CV page to personalize and identify it. However, in this part of the world it is not customary to do this, so you should avoid it as much as possible.
• Nationality: Note that the New Zealand curriculum does not require nationality, but many foreigners choose to add it as an attachment to the curriculum.
• Work experience: Among the mandatory sections, it is important to highlight the work experience you may have. This part should be according to the type of job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job in a bar and you have worked five years in a school, it will not be necessary to add this.
• Languages you speak: There is a small section in the New Zealand CV where you can put, very briefly and as a list, which languages you speak. For example: english/ spanish/french.

Travel

The first step to work in New Zealand is to travel to New Zealand. Dare to leave your home country and travel for a short period of time to familiarize yourself with the New Zealand work environment, so that you can get an idea of what the economic environment will be like in the country that will host you. 

If you are traveling to the country for study purposes you will already have the first part covered, because with your student visa you will be able to work part time, although you can always apply for a working holidays visa for these purposes. Only by traveling to this country you will be able to fulfill your dream of working there and start building a better situation due to its excellent economy. 

Is there a season to travel to work in New Zealand?

The demand for employment in New Zealand is always present thanks to the constant expansion of the country and the great tourist attraction it generates, so any time of the year can be a good time to decide to take the step to work in this country. 

However, keep in mind that, like any other country with tourist attractions, the high season is the most favorable for this due to the large number of tourists that New Zealand receives and the stores, hotels, restaurants and cultural complexes need enough people to be able to supply them. At Christmas time you can get a job without having a very high level of English. 

How can I travel to New Zealand to work?

Traveling to this country for work purposes can be easier than you can imagine, especially if you comply with the necessary documents required by the New Zealand State for foreigners to be able to work. Remember that within this country there is a large number of foreigners, so special jobs have been devised and it will be easy to find one.

Here is a quick overview of some of the requirements you will need to travel to New Zealand for work purposes from your home country, no matter where you are from:

• Passport: Remember that it must be valid for at least six months and must be duly stamped when entering the country.
• Work Visa: As already mentioned, this is the main requirement.
• Medical insurance: It is important to read the policy carefully to make sure you have the most coverage possible.

Open a bank account

If we have to name one of the requirements to work in New Zealand, apart from the visa and the CV, we cannot forget to open a New Zealand bank account. This, contrary to what you may think, is a routine and very simple procedure, as the banks have a specific section for opening accounts for foreigners. 

By having a bank account you will become a temporary New Zealand citizen and enjoy benefits such as being able to withdraw money at an ATM, make deposits and, most importantly for you, receive your salary through the bank you chose to open your account.

How to open a bank account in New Zealand?

Having said that this is an important requirement to get a job, it is natural that you wonder how to do it. This procedure is usually the same as in any other part of the world, mainly to the New Zealand bank of your choice. 

The requirements for this procedure may vary considerably depending on the bank you go to, however, some of the requirements you will be asked to meet may be the following: 

• Photocopy of your passport: You can assume that among the documents you will be asked for you can find a photocopy of your passport, which will be your identity document abroad.
• Address where you are staying: Whether you are staying in a hostel, hotel or student residence farm, you must provide an address in order to proceed with your paperwork. The same applies if you are staying with family or friends.
• Residence credentials: Regardless of where you are staying, you must carry with you a document as a credential certifying that this is your address during your stay in the territory.
• IRD photocopy: The IRD, or tax identification number, is a strictly necessary document to be able to work in New Zealand and in order to open a bank account you will need to present a photocopy of it.
• Schedule an appointment: The main thing to be able to comply with this financial document is to schedule a previous appointment, since you will not be attended without having done this before. This can be done directly from the website of the bank of your choice.
• Choose a bank: The most important thing is to choose among the different banks throughout the territory. However, we recommend Kiwi Bank because of its wide reach throughout the country. Lo más importante es elegir entre los distintos bancos que hay en todo el territorio. No obstante nosotros recomendamos el Kiwi Bank dado el gran alcance que tiene en todo el país.

Which banks are there in New Zealand?

As it happens in all countries, New Zealand has more than one banking entity for you to open your account, choosing the one that best suits your needs since each one has its own benefits offered to users.

Making this decision is not easy, so we advise you to go to the different agencies or enter their websites to see what benefits they offer to their users for opening an account with them. These are the banking entities that you can find in New Zealand:

• ANZ: This will be the first entity you will see once you land in the country and walk a couple of streets along Queen Street. It is usually the first choice of some foreigners and has offices in different parts of the country.
• BNZ: The Bank of New Zealand has seventy branches throughout the country and is reputed to be the oldest in the country. You can find an authorized agency almost anywhere in New Zealand.
• KiwiBank: As mentioned above, this may be your best option due to the quality of its payment terminals and you will find an ATM almost anywhere you go.
• ASB: Although it is one of the most modern in New Zealand, it is gradually gaining ground in the world of New Zealand finance, gaining more and more users who prefer its services.
• Westpac: Originally born in Australia, this bank has the support of a large number of users who prefer its services, in addition to having international backing.

Telephone Number

Having a telephone number is not only a necessity within any country, but also a requirement for getting a job in New Zealand, enrolling in a course or degree and opening a bank account. 

Although acquiring a SIM card in New Zealand is really simple, we recommend that you first find out about the four telephone agencies in the country to learn about the plans they offer and make a decision. You will have to choose between these four agencies that are distributed throughout New Zealand:

• Vodafone: This international company also provides its services in the Oceanic country, with national coverage and a variety of plans and rates to choose from.
• Spark: Spark Wi-Fi hotspots are located throughout most of the country, offering a maximum of 1Gb for browsing and downloading totally free of charge.
• Skinny: Among its services, one of the most outstanding is that it offers unlimited and free calls between numbers of the same company.
• 2Degrees: This is another telephone company that has a large national coverage and, like Skinny, offers free calls to numbers of the same company.

You can also access the website of each of these companies to check the rates and benefits they offer to the user. Once you have made your decision, the process is exactly the same as in any other country in the world: go to the nearest authorized agent and purchase the SIM card. 

Licence

While it is true that with your work visa you will be able to get a job in New Zealand, you will also need a series of special permits, depending on the job, that you will have to apply for in order to be able to do it legally. 

Working in New Zealand can be an adventure, but you need to be aware of what work requires a special permit, such as those related to fishing, hunting, construction, etc., which require their respective procedures.

Construction Licence

New Zealand is a country in constant expansion, so the construction industry has a great importance in its society. This has caused many young people to take an interest in pursuing a degree related to this field.

For this reason, the State of New Zealand has decided that in order to work in the construction industry, at any level, a special permit is required. This is not very difficult to apply for and once it is granted, it brings a series of benefits that will be useful when working. 

Licence to work with children

This is one of the most delicate permits that can be processed in New Zealand due to its nature and the large number of jobs related to children. Among these jobs can be babysitter, au pair, teacher, mascot in children's events. 

The two main requirements for this process is that you must not have a criminal record or a history of child abuse. You will also be interviewed by a government agent where you will have to answer in perfect English and with complete sincerity, making clear your intentions to work with a child audience. 

Licence to work with alcoholic beverages

New Zealand is known for being a country full of adventures, beaches and, especially; for having the safest nightclubs where the party never ends. And who says party says bartender and cocktails, which is one of the most important sources of jobs for young people in the country, since you can work as a bartender in almost any city and town in the country.

However, in order to liven up the party with the best drink mixes, it is necessary to comply with the permit to work with alcoholic beverages, which not only applies to bartenders but also in case you wish to work in an establishment that sells beer or in a supermarket as a liquor vendor. Undoubtedly a very important permit to take into account. 

Food handling licence

Another major source of employment in the country, especially during the high tourist season, is the kitchen. Whether as a restaurant helper, waiter or kitchen assistant, the food industry is one of the biggest money makers in New Zealand due to its delicious and balanced cuisine rich in vitamins.

If you want to become part of this industry, it will be necessary for you to obtain a food handling permit, one of the most important and delicate in the country. Keep in mind that sanitary standards are strictly necessary for any establishment to operate, so your cleanliness must be assured.

Driving licence

If you have a high level of English and are good at learning directions you can always apply for a job as a cab driver, one of the most needed jobs in New Zealand cities. However, for this you must have a driver's license. 

This is a simple procedure that you can do at any time you wish, you just have to take the driving test, fill out the form and expect to pass. Keep in mind that you must first familiarize yourself with the country's traffic laws, as well as get used to driving in this territory.