Looking for a way to earn money while living in one of the world’s most jaw-dropping countries? New Zealand might be calling your name. With its dramatic coastlines, vibrant cities, and unbeatable outdoor lifestyle, this island nation is more than just a travel destination, it’s a place where you can live, work, and grow.
New Zealand jobs for expats are calling
Thanks to New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa and traveler-friendly job market, finding work abroad here is easier than you might expect. Whether you're taking a gap year, craving a break from your 9-to-5, or looking to gain international experience, there are plenty of rewarding jobs for foreigners in New Zealand that offer more than just a paycheck, they offer a chance to be part of something bigger.
In this guide, we’ll break down five of the best New Zealand jobs for expats and travelers, so you can find the perfect fit for your skills, schedule, and sense of adventure.
Adventure-focused work abroad programs in New Zealand
We’ll cut to the chase. We know it’s likely that you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for a little joie de vivre in your work abroad experience. Known for bungee jumps, skydives, and steep slopes, there is no better place to begin your search for adventurous work in New Zealand than in Queenstown.
1. Hit the slopes with EA Ski & Snowboard Instructor Training
If you have an extreme love for extreme sports, you’ll be happy as pie working at a ski resort. EA organizes accommodation, training, and instructor qualifications, and will help you find a job at a resort of your choice. Here, New Zealand jobs for foreigners pay a pretty penny during the winter months, as tourists flock to Queenstown from around the globe to hit the legendary ski slopes. Making bank by teaching European tourists how to ski while in the shadow of the Remarkles will be, in a word, remarkable.
Type of work: Ski instruction
Where: Queenstown
2. Tame the wilderness with Pure Exploration
Getting paid to spend your days outdoors in a place like New Zealand sounds too good to be true, but Pure Exploration makes it possible. With this program, you’ll learn leadership and outdoor skills, as well as gain guide qualifications and first aid training. Once the program ends, you’ll be more than ready to lead your own wilderness tours. Pure Exploration also includes 12 weeks of accommodation and all necessary equipment, making the transition to Kiwi life that much easier.
Type of work: Tourism, Adventure Guide
Where: Queenstown, South Island
3. Work on a farm with New Zealand Internships
An honorable mention that we can’t overlook: New Zealand farm jobs for foreigners. Agriculture and horticulture are huge industries in New Zealand, and thus, the demand for workers is always high. Seek out kiwifruit and avocado farms, vineyards, and apple orchards, or even small, family-owned farms, and you’ll surely find job openings (just keep in mind that many farms operate seasonally).
Type of work: Agriculture, Farming, Horticulture
Where: Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hastings, North Shore, Palmerston North, Queenstown, Rotorua, Tauranga, Wellington
Farm life might not be glamorous, but the adorable animals forecast is looking pretty good.
People-focused work abroad programs in New Zealand
If you’re a little less reclusive, and a little more of a people-person, there are plenty of opportunities in New Zealand that will let your personality shine. Bars and restaurants hire year-round, and Kiwi families are often on the lookout for additional help. These opportunities are great for expats who want to avoid seasonal lulls.
4. Get to know the locals with New Zealand Internships
New Zealand Internships offer paid experiences in a few sectors, but their hospitality program sounds like the best for expats. They will help you find job openings around both the North and South Islands as bartenders, baristas, wait staff, and more. The cherry on top is that the roles are primarily nine months to a year in length, so you’ll be able to hunker down and save some cash without worrying you’ll be on the job hunt once again when the season ends.
Type of work: Hospitality, Bartending
Where: North or South Island
5. Find your inner child as an au pair with GeoVisions
Au pair jobs are more than abundant in New Zealand, on both the North and South Islands, in both urban and rural settings. If you consider yourself patient, and a little go-with-the-flow, you should absolutely consider becoming an au pair (it’s worth noting that a love of children is also somewhat crucial). GeoVisions offer orientation, assistance setting up a bank account, the opportunity to meet up with other au pairs, and a guarantee of at least 30 hours of work per week. Alternatively, check out Au Pair Link for a similar experience.
Type of work: Au pair, Childcare
Where: North or South Island
Au pair jobs in New Zealand are easy to come by for foreigners who are great with kids.
Choose your own adventure!
"Whether you're dreaming of working on a vineyard, leading outdoor adventures, or gaining hands-on experience in hospitality, New Zealand offers more than just a job, it offers a lifestyle. With the right visa and a bit of planning, you can find meaningful work that supports your travels, fuels your passions, and connects you with people and places you’ll never forget.
If none of these jobs feel quite right, don’t worry, there are plenty more paths to explore. Organizations like InterExchange, BUNAC, Oyster Worldwide, and Greenheart can help you craft a working holiday that fits your goals.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your New Zealand adventure today, the mountains, coastlines, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences are waiting."
[Browse All New Zealand Jobs for Foreigners]
Pack your bags—it’s time to work abroad!
Pro tips for expats
We don’t want to send you south without sharing these helpful tips first! Before finding work abroad programs in New Zealand, know that…
- Seasons are flip-flopped. If you’re a native of the Northern Hemisphere, that is. It will be necessary to give up your summer at home if you’re interested in certain seasonally-driven jobs, such as working on vineyards or chilling at the ski slopes.
- Hospitality jobs aren’t tip-based. And it’s kinda awesome! No matter where you choose to work in New Zealand, you will be guaranteed at least the federal minimum wage (which stacks up well against other Western minimum wages!).
- Don’t waste your visa! Ah, the working holiday visa. New Zealand is a gem for making it so simple to work within such beautiful confines! That being said, make sure you’re confident that you’re ready to go before applying—once you’re granted your visa, you only have a year to actually use it. Then, it expires...for-ev-er.
- Apply for the right jobs. The working holiday visa is a one-off; it cannot be renewed, but it can potentially be extended under certain circumstances. It is also not the correct path to residency or citizenship if that’s what you’re looking for, so don’t waste your time. Don’t apply to jobs listed as “permanent” or that are seeking citizens specifically—you’ll absolutely be ghosted.
- Come with a safety net. Although one of the prerequisites for receiving the working holiday visa is a certain amount of cash in your savings account, officials don’t always check. However, we still highly recommend you bring savings with you! Depending on the time of year you arrive, it can take a minute before you find steady work, and if you think hostel bed bugs are bad, cold city streets are worse.
- Consider buying a car upon arrival. That probably sounds like crazy advice, and thanks to an extensive public transport network it won’t apply to everyone. However, it’s actually quite easy to buy cheap, old bangers from departing or upgrading expats, and they can prove to be exceptionally helpful if you find work in the more remote parts of New Zealand.
- The wildlife (most likely) won’t kill you. Need we say more?
With so many options for New Zealand jobs for foreigners, you should be more than set for your sweet as working holiday in the Land of the Long White Cloud!
