USIT Work New Zealand
Work and travel in New Zealand for a year
Paperwork pain and job panic? We sort your New Zealand working holiday visa, tax number and bank account set-up – plus your choice of bed nights, trips and job support.
On the fence?
Let's talk
Kia ora, job hunters! We have hundreds of jobs in New Zealand to fill.
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 beautiful and chill places on the planet. The high minimum wage and backpacker-friendly employers mean you can earn great money working in pubs, ski resorts and vineyards. Or, because 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 or Christchurch.
Why do it with USIT
Work it your way
Our Kickstart, 4-day Essential and 7-day Ultimate New Zealand working holiday packages mean you can pick the level of support that works for you.
Jobs before you go
Search and apply from hundreds of working holiday jobs on the USIT Job Hub. Apply before you go, when you land and for the whole of your New Zealand visa.
No hassle travel
We work with a licensed agent for the New Zealand government’s working holiday program. We process your visa and help sort all the work and tax essentials.
18-30 years
Stay for up to a year
Depart year-round
Do casual or career jobs
NZD $21.20 minimum wage
Travel insurance included
From €639
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 €639
We make moving to New Zealand from Ireland on a working holiday simple – doing more of the work so that you enjoy more of the holiday.
As well as including the cost and processing of your New Zealand working holiday visa, all three of our packages include all the important stuff you need to work in New Zealand – including one year’s backpacker travel insurance, your New Zealand bank account and IRD (tax) number set-up.
If you want to take the drama out of finding a job, a place to stay and new mates when you land – opt for the 4-day Essential or 7-day Ultimate. Starting in Auckland or Christchurch, both include hostel nights, job workshops, day trips, nights out and access to the Job Hub for your whole visa.
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. For other eligible nationalities, click 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.
How we help The cost of your New Zealand visa is included in all our packages. Once you’ve paid in full, our team will apply for it on your behalf to ensure everything is submitted correctly. This can take between 2-8 weeks – longer if any additional information is required. Visas are issued electronically.
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.
With one of the highest minimum wages in the world (currently NZD $21.20) and a backpacker-friendly culture, 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 (Essential and Ultimate only) We have a dedicated team that finds employers looking to take on working holidaymakers. They’re vetted to make sure everything is legit, and as soon as you’ve paid your deposit, you’ll get access to the Job Hub where you can start searching and applying for jobs.
If you’d rather wait until you land, your arrival support includes in-person job workshops. You’ll have access to our Job Hub for the full year of your visa.
Departure dates
The 7-day Ultimate is the first four days of the Essential package, with the addition of a 3-day guided Bay of Islands trip (if starting in Auckland) or a 3-day Lake Tekapo and Queenstown trip (if starting in Christchurch).
Start Auckland The Essential and Ultimate have 2-3 departures a month. Talk to the team to confirm the start dates before you book.
Start Christchurch 2023 start dates for Essential and Ultimate: 19 Mar | 30 Apr | 28 May | 25 Jun | 23 Jul | 13 Aug | 10 Sep | 15 Oct | 19 Nov
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
Kickstart inclusions €639
The basic one
Good for... Getting all the basics set up to legally work in New Zealand.
Includes
- 1-year New Zealand working holiday visa + visa processing
- 1-year backpacker travel insurance policy
- New Zealand bank account set-up (self-serve with full instructions)
- IRD (tax) number set-up (self-serve with full instructions)
Essential inclusions €1,029
The 4-day one
Good for... Arriving jetlagged and wanting your first four days in Auckland or Christchurch completely taken care of.
Includes
- 1-year New Zealand working holiday visa + visa processing
- 1-year backpacker travel insurance policy
- 1-year access to the Job Hub for unlimited working holiday jobs
- 3 nights’ hostel accommodation (Jucy Snooze in Christchurch or LyLo in Auckland)
- Shared airport transfer, city walking tour and group dinner
- In-depth arrival orientation with job workshop and travel planning session
- Bank account set-up (in-person during your orientation)
- IRD (tax) number set-up (in-person during your orientation)
- SIM card
- Auckland departures: Ferry trip to Devonport
- Christchurch departures: Day trip to Akaroa
Ultimate inclusions €1,459
The 7-day one
Good for... Everything the Essential does, but with a guided welcome week from our NZ HQ to help you find your feet, find a job and fall head over jandals (flip flops) for this amazing country.
Includes
- 1-year New Zealand working holiday visa + visa processing
- 1-year backpacker travel insurance policy
- 1-year access to the Job Hub for unlimited working holiday jobs
- 6 nights’ hostel accommodation (4n in Jucy Snooze in Christchurch or LyLo in Auckland, and 2n in either the Bay of Islands or Queenstown)
- In-depth arrival week with job workshops, travel planning and car buying sessions
- Bank account and IRD (tax) number set-up (in-person during your orientation)
Plus, all this good stuff...
Auckland inclusions City walking tour | Auckland ferry to Devonport with group dinner | 3-day Bay of Islands trip with 2 nights’ hostel accommodation in Paihia | Whangarei, Haruru and Rainbow Falls | Kerikeri town and farmers’ market | scenic hikes and bush walks | some meals and drinks
Christchurch inclusions City walking tour | welcome dinner | day trip to Akaroa | 3-day Lake Tekapo and Queenstown trip with 1 night hostel accommodation in Lake Tekapo and 1 night hostel accommodation in Queenstown | trip to Arrowtown | scenic walks and stops | some meals and drinks
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.
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?
Why choose
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.
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.
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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