Finding a job in New Zealand

To finance your stay on a Working Holiday Visa, you’ll probably need to find a job. Living in a new country requires a bit of adaptation. New Zealand’s world culture is rather specific. This guide will help you navigate your new work environment and will help you find a job by looking at some practical points.

So what type of job should I look for? Does New Zealand recruit in my field? What can I do if my English is not good enough? How do I look for and find a job in New Zealand? What should I put on my CV to help me land my dream job? We’ll answer all these questions (and many more) in this guide.

Guide originally published in July 2014, last updated in February 2024.

Employment rights and requirements (types of jobs, salaries, holidays, etc.)

A valid visa

This probably goes without saying, but it’s worth noting that to work in New Zealand, you’ll need a valid visa (a WHV, for example). This is also the case for any voluntary work in which you receive something in return (accommodation, meals).

Taxes

Before starting work, you must first obtain an IRD number (Inland Revenue Department). The IRD number will be your New Zealand tax identification number

Tax is deducted directly at source. If you do not apply for an IRD number, you could be taxed directly at 45% (the highest tax rate). Generally, you will be taxed at 10.5% (if you earn less than $14,000 a year).

Minimum wage

On 1 April 2024, the minimum wage in New Zealand will rise to $23.15 gross per hour. Wages are sometimes quoted on an annual basis for full-time jobs.

You can use this online converter to convert your salary (to an annual salary or an hourly salary, for example): Salary Calculator.

If you work in fruit picking and are paid by the “bin rate”, you should at least be paid the minimum wage. If not, you must ask your employer to pay you more. Otherwise, your employer is in an illegal situation. The same applies to jobs paid on commission. You must be paid at least the minimum wage in this case.

If you work on a public holiday, your employer must pay you 1.5 times your regular salary. If a public holiday falls on a working day and your employer gives you time off, your employer must pay you your regular salary. Many public holidays fall on a Monday in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, you are usually paid weekly according to the exact number of hours you have worked. However, you will not receive a bonus if you work weekends, overtime or night shifts. All your hours will be paid at the same rate (except if you work on a public holiday, as mentioned above).

Types of jobs

Full time job

A full time job is a based on 30-40 hours paid work per week. Most of the time, you have fixed hours each week.

Part time

Part-time jobs can vary a lot in hours. It can be useful, when you arrive, to work part-time to obtain a New Zealand reference (a person your future employers can contact) while leaving yourself enough time to continue looking for another job. It is possible to hold several jobs at the same time, but this requires organisation and fairly regular working hours in your two jobs.

Permanent job

A permanent job is the equivalent of a permanent contract. It can be full-time or part-time. Please note that, as a working holiday visa maker, you cannot accept a permanent job! However, if you see an offer that interests you, don’t let the term “permanent job” stop you. New Zealanders are quite flexible and you could quite easily suggest a “fixed term” contract (see below) for 12 months (or less) if you wanted to!

Contract job / Temporary job / Fixed term job

These jobs are temporary, lasting a few days, weeks or months. This is often the case for jobs obtained through employment agencies and seasonal jobs (in fruit picking or tourism, for example). Temporary contracts allow you to gain several experiences. In between contracts, you’ll have the chance to explore other parts of the country!

Casual job / Vacation

This term could be translated as “extra”. Your hours are not always the same, they change from week to week and there are no guaranteed hours of employment.

Casual work (or casual position) does not mean that you will work few hours. Sometimes you can easily work the equivalent of a full time, or even more. Casual contracts are particularly common in hostpitality. You’re called in when you’re needed. But if all the employees in a company have this type of contract, you can be called in a lot!

Can you work as a freelance with a WHV?

Yes!

Breaks

They are agreed with your employer at the time of hiring. However, a basic minimum must be respected:

• 10 minute paid break if you work between 2 and 4 hours a day.
• 10 minute paid break and 30 minute unpaid break (lunch break) if you work between 4 and 6 hours during the day.
• 2 times 10 minute paid break and 30 minutes unpaid break (lunch break) if you work between 6 and 8 hours a day.
• Repeat from line 1 for every additional 2 hours.

Time off

As you work, you generally accumulate holiday pay. In New Zealand, full-time workers are entitled to 4 weeks paid holiday per year.

Paid holiday is sometimes included in your pay, particularly if you are in casual or temporary employment. In this case, 8% of your gross income is added as “Casual Holiday Pay”. If your paid holiday is paid with your salary, any holiday you take will not be remunerated.

If you have a full-time or part-time job, you normally accumulate paid leave which you can take more or less whenever you want. You should, of course, discuss this with your employer and give them plenty of notice. Note that the period between mid-December and mid-January is the main holiday period in New Zealand. If you are one of the last people to join the company, it will be difficult for you to get time off during this period.

If you do not take leave by the end of your contract, you will receive the accrued amount at the same time as your final salary.