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How to find a job in New Zealand: A guide for newcomers

Discover New Zealand’s job market before you arrive to find work faster and secure interviews more easily. Here’s what you need to know to land a job in 2025.
By · Updated January 29, 2025
How to find a job in New Zealand: A guide for newcomers

Whether you’re moving to New Zealand for a gap year or on a two-year visa, it’s a good idea to have some knowledge of the employment market before you arrive. This will make applying for a job and getting an interview much faster. From writing your resume to preparing for an interview, follow our guide for finding the right job for you in 2024.

What are the benefits of working in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a great place to live and work. One of the major benefits of working in Aotearoa is the work-life balance. Paid time off, paid sick leave, paid maternity leave. While some workplaces will offer benefits above the minimum standards, full-time employees can expect:

Annual Leave (Paid Holidays)

Typically, employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks (20 days) of annual leave accrued over a year.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to 10 days per year after the first six months of continuous employment and an additional five.

Employers must allow employees to accumulate up to 20 days of sick leave. Employees can carry over 10 days of unused sick leave per year.

Public Holidays

New Zealand observes 12 public holidays throughout the year.

Employees are entitled to take these days off with pay. Holidays that fall on a weekend are ‘Mondayised’, meaning that employees who don’t work weekends get a paid day off the following Monday.

Public holidays unique to New Zealand include:

  • ANZAC Day

  • Matariki

  • Regional Anniversary Days

  • Waitangi Day

Unpaid Parental Leave

Employees who have worked for at least 10 hours a week for six months are eligible for 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave and 26 weeks of government-funded parental leave payments.

Paid Parental Leave

Employees who have worked for at least 10 hours a week for 12 months are entitled to 52 weeks of unpaid parent leave and 26 weeks of government-funded parental leave payments.

Domestic Violence Leave

As of April 1, 2019, employees in New Zealand are entitled to up to 10 days of paid domestic violence leave per year.

KiwiSaver

Many employees in New Zealand are enrolled in the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme, which includes employer contributions.

If you are enrolled in KiwiSaver, employees are entitled to a minimum 3% match from their employer.

Additional benefits that your job may offer

Health Insurance

Some employees will offer discounts on health insurance.

For the most part, health insurance is not offered, as New Zealand has a government-funded public healthcare system.

Employee Training

Many workplaces will fund employee training to upskill their employees.

Flexible Working Arrangements

Many workplaces will offer working-from-home days or flexible working arrangements that make it easier for staff with children or family responsibilities to work according to their schedule.

What to know before applying for a job in New Zealand

There are a few things you should know before applying for a job in New Zealand that will make finding work slightly easier. The first is having an up-to-date curricular vitae (resume).

Here are some things you should include on your CV:

  • A New Zealand address: getting a job in New Zealand is much easier if you are already here. Providing a New Zealand address or local phone number will improve your chances of getting an interview.

  • Relevant experience: start by applying for jobs that are relevant to your experience. Switching industries is easier once you already have a job in New Zealand.

  • Language proficiency: if you are going for an office job, proficiency in written English is important.

  • Soft and hard skills: don’t forget to highlight your soft skills as well as your hard skills. Communication, teamwork and collaboration are all highly valued in New Zealand. Many employees hire for a combination of skills, personality and attitude.

  • Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi): for some roles, showing an interest or basic understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi can help, especially if you are applying for government roles.

  • Writing a cover letter: many employers won’t hire employees who don’t write a cover letter. Take your time applying for job roles, and always submit a cover letter customised to each role. Your letter should address how your skills will help you complete the requirements set out in the job description.

  • There are many roles in regional New Zealand: if you’re flexible on where you can live, try applying for jobs in different locations. This is especially true for certain industries, like Health & Medical roles.

What types of roles are in demand in New Zealand?

The current roles are in high demand in New Zealand. The good news is, that even if you don’t have any experience, some of these roles don’t require any.

Trades and Services

Trades and Services are the most in-demand industries in New Zealand. The most in-demand jobs are for Automotive Trades, Technicians, Labourers, Electricians, Builders, Gardening & Landscapers, and Security Services. There are currently over 1,800 jobs available in the trades in New Zealand.

Healthcare & Medical

Medical jobs are highly in demand, especially within the regions. The job roles with the most openings right now include Dental, Medical Administration, General Practitioners, Aged Care Nursing, Community & Maternal Nursing, Physiotherapy, Counselling & Social Work. There are over 1,200 jobs currently available in the healthcare industry in New Zealand.

Manufacturing Transport & Logistics

There are currently over 1,500 jobs available in the Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics industries in New Zealand. Popular job openings include Assembly and Process Work, Machine Operators, Couriers and Drivers, Production, Planning and Scheduling, Warehousing, Storage and Distribution.

Hospitality and Tourism

Hospitality is a great industry to get into if you are planning on travelling around New Zealand. It’s often easier to pick up work quickly and connect with others in the industry. There are currently over 1,200 jobs available, with the most positions found in Management, Chefs and Cooks, Front Office Staff, Bar & Beverage Staff, Waitstaff and Kitchen Hands. A barista or bar course can help you get a job if you have little experience.

IT & Communication Technology

There are currently 1,000 IT jobs advertised on Seek. The most popular job roles include Developers/Programmers, Help Desk & IT Support and Software Engineering. IT & Communication Technology was one of the highest-paid industries in New Zealand last year, with many job roles offering salaries over $100,000.

Administration & Office Support

There are over 900 jobs available in New Zealand for administration and Office Support. Popular job roles include Administrative Assistants, Secretary Roles and PAs, Office Management and Receptionists.

Retail and Consumer Products

Retail is a great industry to get into when you are just starting out in New Zealand. Many retail jobs are looking to hire staff quickly, and you don’t always need experience (as much as a positive attitude). There are over 600 retail assistant jobs currently on Seek and over 250 management jobs.

Where should I look to find job roles in New Zealand

Knowing where to find a job in a new country can be half the battle. Here are the most common ways of finding a job in New Zealand. We suggest utilising as many of these options as you can!

Online

Seek and Trade Me Jobs are two of the most popular job sites in New Zealand.

The vast majority of jobs are posted on these two sites.

Recruitment Companies

Recruitment companies are popular in New Zealand.

If you are a highly skilled candidate or work in a niche field, we recommend reaching out to a recruiter.

Recruiters are great because they take some of the stress of finding work off your shoulders and can help advocate for a higher salary.

Industry Websites

Industry websites are a great way to find jobs related to your niche.

Two examples of these are Builders Crack for tradespeople and The Creative Store for creative jobs.

Backpackers Bulletins and Websites

Backpacker Board is a job application website that advertises seasonal work. Jora and Pick NZ are other great places to search for agricultural or seasonal jobs.

What do our customers say?

Read reviews of Wise Move to learn stories from our customers.
$385
Auckland
Wellington, Broadmeadows
9.0
Vladimir
Reviewed 18 hours ago
I was delivering a sofa from Auckland. I am quite happy with the delivery. Flexible, accurate with the goods. Friendly and very nice people who do their job properly. Punctuality and communication can be improved sometimes but it didn't affect me too much and everything went well in the end. I would recommend this mover!
$110
Auckland, Auckland Central
Auckland, Ellerslie
10
Dansoa
Reviewed 18 hours ago
They were extremely understanding and professional, even with more items than expected. They worked very efficiently and handled everything with care. Amazing- would definitely recommend!!
$250
Auckland, Grey Lynn
Auckland, Ponsonby
10
Rosazlin
Reviewed 19 hours ago
Steven my mover was amazing! It was just him and I moving my boxes, bed, mattress and coffee table to my new place. He was communicative, punctual, efficient and friendly - we made such a good team! The process was done fast and I enjoyed talking with Steven too. It was also Valentine’s Day and out of nowhere at the very end, Steven presented me with small gifts from the company! Some cute Jewelry I really love. Thanks so much! Really made my day :) Thank you to PF Moving for the quick responses and providing me with the cartons of boxes at the last minute. Highly recommended!!
$499
Te Puke, Bay of Plenty
Te Puke, Bay of Plenty
9.0
Patsy
Reviewed 19 hours ago
The young men completing the job were exceptional. Great work ethic, took pride in their work, and were very careful with the items. If I could make one suggestion I would prefer a phone call for confirmation rather than relying on emails as I believed the job was being done a week earlier than what it was. Had I not checked my emails I would not have seen the question and would have answered earlier. However, the job has now been done and I am very satisfied and would use this carrier again.
$470
Christchurch, Sydenham
Christchurch, Halswell
9.5
Greg
Reviewed 23 hours ago
Movers were great! Really appreciate their work. Managed to pack swiftly while being respectful of the items
$165
Washing Machine
Lower Hutt, Hutt Central
Auckland, Mount Eden
10
Max
Reviewed 23 hours ago
It was a wise choice going with Marshall. Flawless communication and delivery of the goods. Not going anywhere else for my moving needs now.
$300
2 bedroom house move
Tauwharenīkau, Wellington
Wellington, Miramar
10
Lisa
Reviewed 1 day ago
Fantastic removal support - efficient and smooth. Definitely recommend
$5,850
Storage unit with furniture. Approximately 50 cubic metre could be mor...
Palmerston North, Milson
Whangārei, Morningside
10
William
Reviewed 1 day ago
Ace Movers was very professional, friendly, and prompt. Their communication was excellent. They were flexible, worked around my schedule, and delivered when they said they would. I wouldn't hesitate to use them for your move.

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