Working in New Zealand is a popular choice – the country attracts thousands of travellers and backpackers per year and one can definitely see why.
So far at inspireyourtrip.com, we have given you the low down on working holidays in Australia, and now here’s our guide to moving to work in spectacular New Zealand.
Why Should I Go to New Zealand?
With so many countries you could work abroad, why choose New Zealand?
There are so many reasons to travel to New Zealand, this is one of the most beautiful countries you will probably ever visit with some awe-inspiring landscapes and local people are generally friendly and welcoming.
The country has its own unique and fascinating culture of the Maori people and lots to keep you interested. Go to New Zealand if you love the outdoors and getting back to nature. It is also a great place to try out a range of extreme sports and get up close and personal with the wildlife.
We can guarantee that you’ll want to get out and explore the countryside, but New Zealand has some pretty great cities too, albeit, mostly surrounded by nature. Head to Queenstown ‘the capital of adventure sports’ if you’re after a thrilling adrenalin rush, or Wellington for music, theatre, nightlife and culture.
Or maybe you’d prefer the charming and laid-back Christchurch or the quirky town of Dunedin that thinks it’s in Scotland.
How Do I Go About It?
In order to be able to work in New Zealand you need to apply under the working holiday scheme, which allows you to work and travel within New Zealand for up to 12 months.
You’ll need to be between the ages of 18 and 30 years to qualify and must not be bringing children with you. It is also important that you have savings to be able to support yourself for a few months when you first arrive. The primary aim must be to travel, and only work to support this.
With this type of visa you are only allowed to take temporary contract jobs and no permanent ones. You are also allowed to undertake a course of study for up to six months if you wish.
There are a number of different ways to go about organising a working holiday in New Zealand. The first way is to organise it through a gap year company.
Gap Year World and Seasonal Jobs Abroad are some good options, but there are many more to choose from. These companies will help you get your working visa, organise your flights, accommodation when you first arrive, and give you advice and support on looking for a job.
Some companies will also offer you 24 hour support in case you need help like an emergency contact phone number.
Alternatively, you can organise your own working holiday visa via the New Zealand government website, the process is generally quite simple and quick to do yourself.
However, if you choose this option you will not get any support or help in finding a job or accommodation once you’re there. This is a good option if you’re very independent, have done lots of travelling before and are good at networking.
What Can I Do There?
Typical casual jobs for a backpackers include work in agriculture, horticulture and working in the vineyards.
The New Zealand government are actively trying to encourage people to work in these sectors and therefore getting a job in one of these may be slightly easier. Working in these types of jobs, it is likely that you will be given free accommodation and you will often be working in a large group, which is an amazing way to bond and make friends.
If you are looking for a job in a city, then the easiest thing to do is sign up to several temping agencies. Finding work in a restaurant, bar or coffee shop without an agency can be much more difficult than in the UK – New Zealanders can be very fussy about their coffee and may demand two years previous barista experience.
You can also do office work through an agency – it’s fairly easy to get and very well paid in comparison. If you want to hand your CV out then it’s good to know that, in New Zealand, CV’s are much longer than in the UK – anything from two to four pages is considered normal.
In the city, try not to look for work when the University and school holidays commence as all of the temporary jobs will be taken by local students.
