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Book now with €100 deposit

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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

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It’s a work life balance thing

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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.

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Why do it with USIT

Work it your way

Our 4-day Essential and 9-day Ultimate 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.

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Is it for me?

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18-30 years

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Stay for up to a year

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Depart year-round

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Do casual or career jobs

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NZD $22.70 minimum wage

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Travel insurance included

From €825

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What we love

The great outdoors. Earn good money working in the vineyards in summer and ski resorts in winter.

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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 Essential and 9-day Ultimate 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.

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.

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).

Both the 4-day Essential and 9-day Ultimate start in Auckland and have 2-3 departures a month. Talk to the team to confirm the start dates before you book.

The Ultimate is the first four days of the Essential 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.

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

Good for Everything the Essential 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 2 drinks

Book now pay later

  • Secure your spot with €115 deposit
  • Balance due 12 weeks before you fly

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.

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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.

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North Island or South Island of New Zealand?

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.

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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.

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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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More for your bucket list

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