How to Get a Job in New Zealand as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)

Most people visit New Zealand and fall for it fast. It is gorgeous, yes, but it is also easy to live in. Mountains, beaches, lakes, all close enough to make plans on a weekday and actually go. What really sticks is the way the local Kiwis are welcoming without making a fuss. Communities feel tight, the pace is peaceful, and being outdoors is just normal life. Think a flat white that actually tastes like coffee, a mid-week hike, Saturday by the water and a Sunday at a barbecue. Say yes to a local invite and you will see how quickly “I am here for a year” becomes “I could stay longer.”

Choose your corner and build from there. Queenstown for alpine shifts and crisp mornings, Auckland for city hours and weekend beaches, Raglan if surfing between shifts is the goal. Work pays the bills, the outdoors clears your head, and the routine settles in faster than you expect.

Moving countries is not only about enthusiasm. Between visas, job hunting, organising your tax identification number (IRD), housing, and paperwork, the start can feel like a puzzle. That is where support helps. We guide you through the process, offer job-finding assistance and help with arrival logistics, so you can step into your move with more clarity and less stress.

This is your 2025 roadmap to working in New Zealand: the visas that actually work, the jobs that hire foreigners, and the practical steps to go from “thinking about it” to touching down with a plan. 

Why New Zealand Is Perfect for Working Abroad

Work That Fits Your Lifestyle

New Zealand’s job market suits travellers who want to earn a wage while they explore. Hospitality, tourism, agriculture, and retail are the main industries that are perfect for working travellers. Think barista roles in Auckland, housekeeping in lakeside lodges, vineyard work in Marlborough, or adventure-park gigs in Rotorua. Many employers are accustomed to hiring Working Holiday Visa holders, so it can be a practical environment to look for roles that match your goals and lifestyle.

Travel That Doubles as Daily Life

You do not need to wait for annual leave to experience something new. A weekend drive can take you from city to coast to mountain. Intercity buses and budget flights keep it affordable, while regional jobs can place you in postcard-worthy spots where exploring becomes part of your routine. It is a great setup for travellers who want a lifestyle packed with scenery and variety.

A Culture That Values Connection

Kiwis are welcoming and community-minded, so settling in can feel natural once you find your rhythm. Within a few weeks you might know your barista’s name, and the local dairy owner may recognise you as you walk past. Weekends take care of themselves: a pint with mates after work, a beach walk that turns into fish and chips, a backyard barbecue where everyone stays behind to tidy up.

Seasons That Shape Your Journey

New Zealand’s seasons are distinct, and the types of roles available often shift with them. Winter (June to August) draws travellers to ski regions like Queenstown, Wānaka and Mt Ruapehu. Summer (December to February) brings coastal hospitality across the Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Abel Tasman and Kaikōura. Spring and autumn (September to November, March to May) are key periods for vineyards and orchards in Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Central Otago. If you have a specific type of job in mind, planning around the seasons can help you time your arrival.

Visa Options and Requirements

New Zealand is popular for a reason. Remarkable landscapes, relaxed communities and a range of job options for eligible travellers make it a standout choice. The next step is choosing the visa pathway that best fits your plans and the type of trip you want to build.

Working Holiday Visa (WHV)

For most travellers aged 18 to 30, and up to 35 for some nationalities, the Working Holiday Visa is the most common route. It generally allows you to live and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months, or up to 23 months for UK and Canadian citizens, with the freedom to move between regions and roles.

Typical requirements include:

• Holding a passport from an eligible country
• Meeting age criteria (18–30 or 18–35 depending on nationality)
• Showing access to sufficient funds
• Demonstrating onward travel arrangements or funds
• Meeting basic health and character criteria

Planning Your Application

WHV applications run year-round, but some countries have quotas that can fill quickly. Applying several months before your intended start date can give you more breathing room to plan around seasonal work and travel.

Important Note: Visa rules, eligibility criteria and processing times can change. Always verify the latest information on the official New Zealand Immigration website. 

The New Zealand Working Holiday Pack

Some people love the planning, booking and colour-coded spreadsheets. If that is you, enjoy. For most of us, the admin is a slog and gets stressful fast. Miss one detail and you can lose days: the wrong visa document, a delayed IRD number, a bank appointment you cannot get for a week. You land, pay for extra accommodation, keep refreshing job boards, and watch costs creep up while paperwork stalls. It is all doable on your own, but the first fortnight can burn through savings before you are settled.

The New Zealand Working Holiday Pack helps simplify the start of your move. It offers support with the essentials so you can arrive with more structure and fewer unknowns. By the time your plane touches down, you have a clearer plan to follow.

What you can expect

• Pre-arrival job placement support where eligible, helping you pursue seasonal, hospitality or tourism roles once you arrive.
• Choose your arrival city: Auckland for big-city convenience, Wellington for culture by the harbour, Queenstown for alpine life; each includes a full orientation and seven nights of accommodation.
• Trip Coordinator support: one point of contact who understands your goals and helps keep your move on track.
• Guidance with visa steps, flights, travel insurance and accommodation through our in-house travel team.

Who it is for

• You want the move to feel easier rather than overwhelming
• You prefer job leads and short-term housing support before you fly
• You like arriving to a community of travellers and locals

What is included

• Pre-arrival job placement support where eligible
• Dedicated Trip Coordinator
• Working Holiday Visa guidance and travel concierge
• Airport pick-up
• Seven nights of arrival accommodation
• City orientation and local tips
• Help exploring longer-term housing options
• Monthly meet-ups and community events

The outcome is straightforward. You arrive supported, settle in sooner, and have people you can reach out to when you need it. Instead of spending weeks getting organised, you can start shaping your new routine from day one.

Working Holiday Jobs and Locations

New Zealand is small in size but huge in personality, and the regions where travellers land tend to double as your social life, playground and Instagram backdrop. Our partner organisations place travellers where the seasons actually shape your year, so here’s what life can look like when the calendar and the location line up perfectly.

Summer: Beach Days, Festival Nights and Coastal Hospitality

From December to February, New Zealand feels like one giant holiday. Coastal towns fill with travellers, hospitality jobs open everywhere and the vibe is sun, music and tan lines.

Top pick: AucklandNew Zealand’s biggest city mixes beach mornings with city nights, all within one bus ride.

• Local favourite: Ponsonby Central for drinks and straight vibes
• Why travellers love it: easy to meet people, easy to find work, and easy to justify buying too many iced coffees

Autumn: Wine Regions and Harvest Season

March to May is when vineyards and orchards come alive. This is prime time for fruit picking, harvest work and packhouse roles, perfect for saving money and meeting other travellers.

Top pick: Marlborough or Hawke’s BayRolling vineyards, warm days and sunsets that will literally take your breath away. 

• Local favourite: any local winery that serves a cheese board
• Why travellers love it: great pay cycles, fast-paced social scenes and the instant personality glow-up that comes from saying “I work in wine”.

Winter: Ski Season and Mountain Town Life

July to September is legendary. Queenstown and Wānaka become the centre of the universe for anyone who likes skiing, snowboarding or just pretending they can.

Top pick: QueenstownAdventure central with mountains, lake views and nightlife that starts wholesome and ends with karaoke.

• Local favourite: Yonder, this is where brunch quietly becomes lunch and sometimes becomes a DJ set you absolutely did not plan for
• Why travellers love it: ski passes, mountain views after work and a social scene that turns strangers into housemates in about 48 hours

Top pick: WānakaA calmer, artsy version of Queenstown with ridiculous scenery.

• Local favourite: Alchemy Cafe for the lake views that make you consider changing your life plan
• Why travellers love it: outdoor everything, friendly locals and a lifestyle that feels like it came from a Pinterest board

Spring: The Reset Button

September to November is when cafés, tourism operators and vineyards start hiring again. It is the warm-up lap before peak summer, and a great time to arrive.

Top pick: WellingtonCreative, colourful and a little windy, but everyone swears they love it.

• Local favourite: Fidel’s Cafe on Cuba Street for the brunch that locals treat like a sport
• Why travellers love it: culture, community and a social scene that makes finding friends effortless

Typical pay: NZD $23 to $30 per hour, depending on experience and industry.Many roles include discounted staff housing or shared accommodation, which helps you save while you travel.

Your First Month in New Zealand

Week 1: Arrival orientation, optional airport pick-up, accommodation check-in, bank and SIM setup, apply for IRD number.

Week 2: Start your first job or attend interviews, explore flatshares, meet travellers at community events

Weeks 3 to 4: Settle into your roster, plan short trips such as Rotorua mud pools, Milford Sound cruises, or Abel Tasman kayaking, and shape how you want to spend the months ahead

By the end of month one, you are earning, connected, and comfortable enough to call it home. 

Staying Protected: Global Travel Cover

New Zealand is known for adventure. One morning you are clipped into a harness above a gorge, that afternoon you are brushing sulphur dust off your boots after a crater walk. Big days need a safety net. Travel insurance is not optional; it is what pays when a flight is cancelled, a bag goes missing, or a twisted ankle needs X-rays. 

Global Travel Cover is built for working travellers. You can tailor your plan to your stay and activities, add adventure sports cover, protect your tech, and rely on fast claims support when needed. It is available 24/7, simple to manage, and designed for people who live abroad rather than visit for a week.

Peace of mind lets you chase the good stuff while knowing you are covered if things go sideways.

Your Digital Co-Pilot: The SuperLite App

Keep the momentum rolling and the admin organised. SuperLite pulls everything together so you spend less time juggling tabs and more time getting on with it.

Do more, with less faff

• Find shifts fast: a smart job board that matches roles to your skills and lifestyle, whether you are heading for the city, coast or snow
• Meet your people early: join traveller groups before you fly, plan meet-ups and swap genuinely useful tips
• Stay on top of paperwork: a guided checklist for visa steps and essentials so nothing slips through the cracks
• Learn and save: short workplace primers and member-only Marketplace offers.

Extend the Journey: Explore New Zealand with Global Work & Travel

Once you’ve settled into work and life in New Zealand, setting aside time to explore is one of the best ways to experience what makes the country unforgettable. Whether you head north to soak in volcanic landscapes and Māori culture or south for alpine peaks and breathtaking lakes, these small-group adventures are the perfect add-on to your working holiday.

NZ Adventure - North Island

From volcanic valleys to Māori villages and glowing caves, the North Island surprises you every single day. Across nine days, you’ll sail Lake Taupō at sunset, wander Rotorua’s geothermal wonders, cruise beneath Waitomo’s glowworms, and step onto the real-life Hobbiton set. It’s adventure, culture and coastline wrapped into one seamless trip, guided by a local leader and shared with a group of travellers. 

What’s included (plus much more) 

• Airport pick-up
• 8 nights in central, social hostels
• Waitomo glowworm cave cruise
• Hobbiton film set visit
• Māori cultural experience
• Rotorua geothermal parks (Wai-O-Tapu + Kuirau)
• Lake Taupō sunset sail
• All on-trip transport
• Meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 dinners

Why travellers love It

You get the North Island’s biggest highlights, culture, coastlines and adventure, in one easy, well-organised itinerary. It’s perfect for travellers on a tourist visa or anyone wanting to explore before settling into work.

Find your travel tribeMeet your group before you fly, plan meet-ups, and start your adventure already connected with others in your group. 

NZ Intro - South Island

If the South Island had a personality, it would be bold, dramatic and somehow still completely laid-back. Over nine days, you’ll cruise Milford Sound, jet-boat through canyons, hike around Aoraki/Mount Cook and wind down under alpine stars in natural hot springs. Expect film locations, big views, Queenstown nightlife and a crew of travellers chasing the same mix of freedom and adventure.

What’s Included (plus much more) 

• Airport pick-up
• 8 nights in central, social hostels
• Jet boating through canyons
• Milford Sound cruise
• Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park visit
• All on-trip transport
• Meals: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Why travellers love it

You get the South Island’s greatest hits, mountains, lakes, nightlife, adventure, while also getting set up to live and work like a local. It’s a great balance of unforgettable experiences and practical support. 

Final Thoughts

There is something about New Zealand that stays with you. It is not only the scenery, though that helps. Life feels lighter here, the pace steadier, the days fuller, and the people genuinely kind. You can work, save, and still have time for everything that makes it worth it.

The start will always feel like the biggest step. Getting your visa sorted, landing a job, finding your spot, it all looks harder than it really is. Many travellers find that things start to click once they’ve landed. You will find a rhythm that makes sense: work that funds your next trip, weekends that stretch, and new connections that help the place feel familiar over time.

If New Zealand has been sitting quietly on your list, maybe it is time to move it up. Book the flight, line up the essentials, and give yourself the chance to create a year you’ll remember long after you leave. 

If you're looking for jobs in other countries, Global Work & Travel can help you find a job in United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Korea, Japan, Ireland.