USIT Work New Zealand
Work and travel in New Zealand for a year
Live and work in New Zealand for up to one year with visa advice, arrival nights, travel insurance, and your future best friends/housemates/life partner (maybe).
On the fence?
Let's talk
Spend up to a year living and working in New Zealand
It’s a work life balance thing
Why do a New Zealand working holiday visa?
So cool you'll want to <3 like your own photos, New Zealand is hands down one of the most magical places on the planet. The high minimum wage and backpacker-friendly employers mean you can earn great money working in pubs, hotels, ski resorts, farms and vineyards as you travel. Or, as you’re able to work for the same employer for the full 12 months of your New Zealand working holiday visa, find longer-term work related to your trade or career in Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown or Christchurch.
Why do it with USIT
Work it your way
Our 4-day One and 9-day One New Zealand working holiday packages mean you can pick the level of support and number of arrival nights that work for you.
Job before you go
Hit the ground/slopes running with the option to pre-arrange a ski job in New Zealand before you go (winter only). Plus, job and CV workshops when you land.
No hassle travel
We help set you up with everything you need to start working - including visa guidance, job workshops, insurance, socials and all the nerdy tax and bank account stuff.
Is it for me?
18-30 years
Stay for up to a year
Depart year-round
Do casual or career jobs
NZD $22.70 minimum wage
Travel insurance included
From €825
What we love
The great outdoors. Earn good money working in the vineyards in summer and ski resorts in winter.
Need to know
Work New Zealand | From €825
We make moving to New Zealand from Ireland on a working holiday stress free – doing more of the work so that you enjoy more of the holiday.
Starting in Auckland, our 4-day One and 9-day One New Zealand take the drama out of finding a working holiday job, a place to stay and new mates when you land. Both include hostel nights, job workshops, nights out and help setting up your New Zealand bank account, IRD (tax) number, SIM card and more.
Here’s the need to know on who can apply and what jobs you can do.
About the visa
Who can apply
Irish passport holders must be aged 18-30 (inclusive) to apply for a New Zealand working holiday visa, meaning you must submit your application before your 31st birthday. Other passport holder may vary in age and visa length, check for your nationality here. On arrival into New Zealand, you may be asked to provide proof of NZD $4,200 in support funds – usually in the form of bank statements.
How long for
Once your visa is granted, you have 12 months to enter the country. You’re then permitted to stay and work for one year. However, if you do three months of seasonal work in the fruit, vegetable or wine industry (sold to the Cab Sav fan in the corner), you may be eligible to extend your visa for a further three months.
Type of work
New Zealand working holiday visas give you the freedom to work anywhere in the country and in most industries for a year - doing career or casual work.
New Zealand has one of the highest minimum wages in the world and employers are used to taking on working holidaymakers for a range of positions. Typical backpacker jobs include working in bars, restaurants, hotels, labouring, sales, retail, promotions, tourism and childcare.
Unlike the Australia working holiday visa, you don’t have to change employers every six months – meaning you also have the option to settle down for a year and find work related to your profession. Such as working in marketing, recruitment, construction, finance, nursing, beauty and everything between.
Or, if the aim is to redress your work-travel balance** then working the harvests in summer and the slopes in winter is a great way to earn money, work outside and have a blast.
How we help
Your arrival orientation includes an in-person job workshop and session to get your CV NZ-ready. You’ll also have access to our Job Hub where you can apply for positions with our ski season employers (winter only).
Departure dates
Both the 4-day One and 9-day One start in Auckland and have 2-3 departures a month. Talk to the team to confirm the start dates before you book.
The 9-day One is the first four days of the 4-day package, with a free day in Auckland before heading up to the jaw-dropping Bay of Islands for 3 days.
All departures are subject to availability and a maximum group size, so please book early to get your first choice of date. When you book, we’ll grab your flight details to arrange your transfer. If you're arriving early and need extra bed nights, just shout.
Pick your package
Compare what’s included to find the right Work New Zealand option for you.
The 4-day One inclusions €825
Good for... Arriving jetlagged and wanting your first four days in Auckland completely taken care of.
Includes
- Instructions on how to apply for your New Zealand working holiday visa
- 1-year backpacker travel insurance policy
- Detailed info on how to prepare for your working holiday
- Group chat to meet other travellers also heading to NZ
- Shared airport transfer
- 3 nights’ hostel accommodation in LyLo in Auckland
- Job, accommodation, CV and trip planning workshops
- Bank account, SIM and IRD (tax) assistance
- Auckland ferry to Devonport with group dinner
The 9-day One inclusions €1,225
Good for Everything the 4-day One does, but with a 3-day trip up to the beautiful Bay of Islands with our legendary sidekicks, Kiwi Experience - returning on day eight for your final night of accommodation in Auckland.
Includes
- Instructions on how to apply for your New Zealand working holiday visa
- 1-year backpacker travel insurance policy
- Job Hub access for ski positions (winter roles only)
- Detailed info on how to prepare for your working holiday
- Group chat to meet other travellers also heading to NZ
- Shared airport transfer
- 9 nights’ hostel accommodation (6n in LyLo in Auckland + 2n in the Bay of Islands)
- Job, accommodation, CV and trip planning workshops
- Bank account, SIM and IRD (tax) assistance
- AT Hop card to top-up and use on Auckland public transport
- Auckland ferry to Devonport with group dinner
- 3-day group trip to the stunning Bay of Islands trip with waterfalls, hikes and scenic stops
- 1 dinner and 1 drink
What’s not included
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved.
Support funds (NZD $)
You are required to show proof that you can access NZD $4,200 on entering New Zealand.
New Zealand visa fee
This is paid when you apply online for your visa and currently costs NZD $420.
Field work
Extend your visa by three months
Fruit picking or vineyard work is not only a great way to stay fit, stay social and save money – but if you do three months of seasonal work, you can apply to stay in New Zealand for 15 months! Peachy.
North Island or South Island of New Zealand?
South Island
Larger than the North Island but with only around one million inhabitants, the South Island is home to world-class wineries, ice-carved glaciers and some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet. But don’t let the Nat Geo scenery fool you into thinking there’s no life other than wildlife. Queenstown has one of the best food, wine and bar scenes in the Southern Hemisphere. The university town of Dunedin to the south will give off familiar Celtic vibes – with windswept castles, rowdy bars and gigging students. To the north, Christchurch is a lesson in community and cutting-edge innovation following the earthquakes of 2010-2011; while Nelson at the top of the South Island is an arty enclave for creators and makers.
North Island
The North Island is home to bigger cities, sunnier weather and three quarters of New Zealand’s population. Known as the City of Sails, Auckland is a billboard ad for a new life abroad: with a sparkling waterfront lined with bars and restaurants providing the jobs, and quick access to surf beaches and wineries providing the lifestyle. The North Island is also home to the capital, Wellington. With a craft brewery and co-workspace on every corner, what Wellington lacks in weather (she can really blow on a windy day) the city more than makes up for in creative job opportunities and cosmopolitan culture. Equal parts white sand beaches, ski fields and vineyards – the North Island is also packed with seasonal summer jobs, harvest work and ski job opportunities.
Ask the experts
Book a call with USIT
Don’t call us, we’ll call you. All our USIT team have worked the world, so are here for real talk and authentic advice about where you can go and what you can do.
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