Whether it was leading the Fellowship through snow-capped mountains, or guiding a quest amongst elves in a lush green forest, Peter Jackson got it right when he realized the beauty of New Zealand in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The truth is, New Zealand indefinitely boasts some of the most spectacular scenery this side of the planet. Combined with a blend of Maori indigenous cultures, traditional friendly towns, and lively cosmopolitan cities, there is another country ‘down under’ that is charming a growing number of workers from foreign fields.

Paragliding Above Queenstown

Two main islands form New Zealand (NZ); white-collars inhabit the North with the buzz of Wellington and Auckland cities, and the South’s vast open spaces are perfect for the adrenalin junkies and ski bums of Queenstown and Christchurch or trampers along the national park tracks in Milford Sound and Lake Wanaka. NZ’s draw also extends to the fact that it offers a healthy balance of lifestyle. Active or relaxed, the country’s small size means weekends can offer a multitude of new experiences. Whale watching, dolphin swimming, renowned surfing and hiking, bungee-jumping or just sitting back in the countryside and sipping on a glass of world-class vintage wine. Assorted backdrops and hundreds of employment opportunities await the most intrepid traveler seeking an adventure working abroad.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Despite being the size of the UK but a population of just over half of London, NZ still has as many job opportunities as it does sheep. If you looking to hit the cities, then typically office, retail and bar work are always available. It’s also where most of the skilled migrant jobs are based. Whereas if you like nature and the outdoors, NZ breathes for fresh air jobs; from kiwi fruit picking to adventure tour guides. Some workers focus on one island and work their way around it, some saunter the peaks of both North and South and then find a place to settle. Remember that the seasons are reversed in NZ. During both summer (December-February) and winter (June-August), jobs are always going. Bear in mind however that students start their summer break in November so there is the most competition in this period.

There are a number of general employment websites for NZ that cover a wide range of industries. To start things off, we give you our top 5 resources to begin the hunt:

www.seek.co.nz – useful website advertising jobs across all industries.

www.trademe.co.nz – leading trade site with mostly buy and sell items, but also contains an excellent job section.

www.seasonalwork.co.nz – No.1 seasonal work website which encompasses the agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and hospitality and tourism industries.

www.backpackerboard.co.nz – The online backpackers bible for NZ, with lots of posts for casual work to suit traveller types.

http://auckland.gumtree.co.nz/ – world-renowned gumtree has a little bit of everything – including links to widespread jobs in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

Most of NZ’s daily newspapers have extensive listings of job vacancies. Grab a copy or search online for the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday editions of the New Zealand Herald, The Dominion Post and The Press.

There is no doubt that a whole host of temporary work is up for grabs for WHS visa holders. Here are just some of the most common opportunities:

OFFICE WORK

Many of the big name recruitment agencies have offices globally and need temporary staff to join the hustle and the bustle in the capital of Wellington or in view of the Skytower in Auckland. This is a popular route if you would like to save up some money and set up a base and soak up the urban life. Then perhaps you can use it to travel the rest of the country. Short-term contracts typically involve data-entry or customer service roles, although university graduates and those with office experience also have opportunities with higher-level roles. These types of jobs should exceed the national minimum wage, which currently stands at NZ$12 [NZ$1 = £0.37 / US$0.54] an hour. Temping is also a potential stepping-stone to securing full-time employment and extending your work permit and career. Useful sites to explore are:

www.adecco.co.nz
www.hays-hps.co.nz
www.alphajobs.co.nz
www.manpower.co.nz/
www.randstad.co.nz/

Check out WAM’s very own guide to executive jobs abroad at our website.

See the second blog this week for other opportunities for working abroad in New Zealand without being tied to an office desk…

HARVESTING

If your vision of working abroad is to get away from being glued to the computer all day; seasonal fruit picking, pruning and harvesting is prime work for visitors. Exports are important to the economy in NZ, and employers are always in demand of willing overseas workers for the harvest trail.

Picking season is from summer to early autumn (December to May), as 30,000 hectares of apples, kiwi fruit and other fruit and veg call on fit workers to collect the year’s crops. Previous workers tell us there are pros and cons to working the harvest trail – pros are that you are out in the open, make some great friends, and most of all you get to enjoy the splendor of NZ’s scenic environments and outdoor activities in some truly stunning rural surroundings. The negatives are that rates of pay are modest. Prepare to be motivated as you are usually paid by how much you pick (i.e. per bin, per bucket or kilogram). You are normally paid at around NZ$12 to NZ$15+ an hour, yet in the busy periods money almost does grow on trees, as companies pay wages as ‘piece rates’, i.e. the more you pick, the more you earn.

It’s also physical work, with plenty of early starts and heavy lifting, so a good level of stamina is required. On-the-job training is given, so most of the time no previous experience is necessary. Food and accommodation is generally provided free-of-charge or at a subsidized rate – which is offers a great opportunity to save your salary in the piggy bank.

There are a number of farm organizations which link prospective employers with overseas workers. If you fancy picking apples for example, why not go to the core and work for Mr. Apple, based in n Hawkes Bay on the North Island (www.workinnz.co.nz), it is NZ’s largest grower, packer and exporter of apples. During the harvest season Mr. Apple’s work force rises to over 1,500.  Mr. Apple says that the average worker can expect to earn about NZ$100 per day – NZ$120 per day (before tax), although their best-experienced pickers can earn up to NZ$180 per day. PickNZ (www.picknz.co.nz/) is another excellent resource for up-to-date work throughout the year across all of NZ’s fruit, vegetable and vineyard growing regions.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning the hugely popular WWOOFing scene in NZ (Willing Workers On Organic Farms). WWOOF NZ (www.wwoof.co.nz) is part of a worldwide network of volunteers who work on organic farms in return for lodging, training and food, as well as a unique insight into daily lives of NZ’s people. Due to the heavy reliance on the agricultural industry, WWOOF NZ includes some locations that also pay salaries to their workers. WWOOFers rave about their opportunity to live with Kiwi families and learn more about NZ’s cultures. You also get hands-on experience with a range of new tasks, including organic farming, building, cooking, crafts, dealing with animals and wine, cheese and bread making, Membership is just NZ$45 for a book with details of 1000+ hosts around the country.

OUTDOOR, HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM JOBS

From craggy coastlines and gushing rivers, to hissing volcanoes and icy glaciers, NZ’s rich diversity in geography serves up a list of roles for those with sturdy walking boots and an interest in the hospitality and tourism industry. Ian Stewart, Managing Director of www.seasonalwork.co.nz tells us that the South Island hospitality Industry has a year round requirement for the tourist trade as there is a continuing demand for workers to fill vacancies ranging from Chefs to Bar Staff, Reception and Cleaners, as well as tour guides/reps and sports instructors with the relevant qualifications/experience. In this instance, it’s best to approach resorts and tour companies directly in tourist hotspots, such as Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson, Lake Taupo, Rotorua, and the Bay of Islands. For bar, hotel and restaurant jobs, it’s always best to take the initiative and walk through the doors to land a ready-made CV into the right hands.

Since two-thirds of the country is mountainous, the winter season from June to September brings plentiful work opportunities with its snow. The usual hospitality and ski jobs are on offer in places like Queenstown and Mt. Cook in the South Island, and Mt. Ruapehu and Whakapapa in the North. The best bet is to use a job search site online beforehand, contact the resorts, and arrive with a crisp CV with an enthusiastic personality.  Grab your snow boots and check out our ski resort jobs article for more information on the opportunities.

For relevant job vacancies for all seasonal work, click on www.seasonaljobs.co.nz, www.seasonalwork.com, www.workingin-newzealand.com and www.buzzrecruitment.co.nz

The climate is pleasant, the landscape breathtaking, and the lifestyle healthy and laid back. NZ is a beautiful country fusing with Maoris, Kiwis, seasonal workers, ex-pats, migrants…and even hobbits. Follow in the Fellowship’s footsteps and head straight to the other country ‘Down Under’.

‘So, I’ve got my visa, now I need to organise a job…Where am I going to stay? I’d better book somewhere…’

These tend to be the thoughts that go through a first time traveler’s mind – certainly did with me anyway! I left school at 18 and got ready to spend 12 months away, travelling and working. With a work visa for New Zealand and a return flight to Australia, I wanted to try and be organized and slightly planned, because it not only puts your mind at rest, but also reassures the family and friends you are leaving behind. However, once you set off you realize one of the wonders of traveling is that you really do not need to plan!

Organic Farming Jobs in Australia

I began my travels in New Zealand and before I left I organized work in a vineyard for a few weeks, after seeing an advert on a website. One of the joys of working around a country such as New Zealand is that it caters perfectly for casual, seasonal workers, due to the number of farms and exported produce. No work came from the vineyard, so I found a job in a bar and worked there for a week.

You shouldn’t just wait for notices in windows of shops/cafés advertising vacancies – walk in, smile, be confident and you will be more likely to come out with a job than if you hang back. What you must remember is that employers have a high turn-over of staff, especially in popular places, and so tend to employ more people than usual.

Working Hostels

One top tip to those wanting to work and travel down under is to find a ‘working hostel.’ They are scattered around both Australia and New Zealand, and they help you to realize you do not need to organize jobs before you reach your destination. Have a peek in a Lonely Planet guide or travelers’ websites, so you can contact the hostels before arrival if you need peace of mind. The owners have contacts in the local area, so always have jobs available. Check which season you are visiting though because the vacancies often get filled quickly during low-season. Here’s a piece about youth hostels in Australia that you might find helpful.

The best thing about the hostels is the socializing. In any hostel, you will meet lots of people but at working hostels almost everyone is in the same boat as you, so when you come home after a hard day picking peas, or pruning apple trees, you can chill out with others. You also get the benefits of eating the produce, from pineapples to asparagus! Many people say that they would hate work like fruit-picking, but I feel that you should always have a go – it’s fun, sociable, and you keep fit whilst topping up your tan! If you do not like the job that you have been given, or you feel you are being mistreated or underpaid, don’t be afraid to voice your thoughts! Many people keep quiet and inevitably do not have such a good time. The owners are on your side, and they are always willing to help or find you another job.

In this type of work the wages vary enormously, and tend to be contract rather than hourly.

Contract work is the best if you are a hard worker, because you are paid by how much you pick or how many rows you prune, for example. Employers often have people that do not speak great English, so that they can take advantage of them easily. I found I became the spokesperson for my group, because what they can sometimes do is change the pay halfway through the jobs. As soon as they realize you have your wits about you, they tend not to mess you about again.

If you are only staying in a place for a couple of weeks, then this sort of work is ideal as employers follow the seasons and harvesting can sometimes only last two weeks. You could find yourself working with the locals, who vary from farmers who’ve been there for years, to young teenagers filling their summer holidays. This makes it really nice, because you feel more like a local, rather than a tourist.

When I was working in the awesome town of Queenstown, in New Zealand, I spent 6 months living in a hostel that was just like home, with a log-fire and young owners. I worked in a restaurant and a café, and got to know many of the locals so bagged a free hang-glide trip and cheap snowboarding equipment. When working in a town like Queenstown, you get a locals rate when booking onto adventure activities. The trick when working out how much you will get paid is not to convert it into English pounds! I was being paid NZ$12-13 (£4.50), which was a good rate for that time. You have to remember that it is all relative. The cost of living is so much cheaper, so you spend less.

New Zealand Ski Season Jobs

Many people love the idea of working a ski season in another country, and I was no exception. I bought my season pass for the mountains around Queenstown for £100, all my snowboarding kit for another £100 and I was set for 3 months of fun! If you are prepared to work hard and play hard then this is the life for you. Hitch-hiking up the mountain after a day at work is brilliant. New Zealanders are great people to work for and will always give you lifts up the mountain. The main tip, in contradiction to the rest of this article, is to plan and know by March whether you are going to be spending the winter season in the area. This will ensure you get the season pass cheaply, because from March onwards they steadily increase in price. The town is backpacker central, so after June it is virtually impossible to find a job because everybody else has got there first! The trick is to visit earlier in the year, spend the summer there or simply just get contacts, then travel the country and go back once the winter season begins.

Whitsunday Islands

Anyone who has visited Australia will know about the amazing Whitsunday Islands-Australia’s version of Paradise. Almost all backpackers spend 3 days on a boat, traveling around, snorkelling, diving and visiting the stunning beaches. Every boat has a skipper, a deckhand, and a host (i.e., cook), and often a volunteer that helps in all areas too. For those who love being on the water or simply want a challenge, I suggest volunteering on one of the many boats that do regular trips. I paid to go on one trip, loved it, and then visited companies in Airlie Beach (the gateway to the Whitsundays) until I found a boat to join. It is perfectly legal to work on the boats because you are getting food and accommodation in return, rather than money. The work is hard but you play hard too, so it’s well worth it. There are not many opportunities in life to wake up every morning to clear blue sea and turtles swimming around you!

If you have time to hang around, confidence and a basic knowledge of sailing, you’re probably ideally suited for a crewing job on a boat up the coast, or from one pacific island to another. The best place to look for a job such as this is on notice boards in yacht clubs.

Willing Workers on Organic Farms

Many travellers decide to WWOOF around the world (funny name I know, but it stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms). If you are interested, you can become a member for a small cost, and you receive a booklet listing all the hosts in a specific country. Members do not need a work visa for the country, and can spend as little as a weekend with a household, or even a few months working from 2 to 6 hours a day, in return for food and accommodation. It is worth being wary of some places though, because they can take advantage of volunteers by making them work longer than 6 hours, so make sure you put your foot down! The best way is to commit to a short period of time, and then only extend your stay if you are truly happy.

Jobs Abroad in New Zealand

In Byron Bay in Australia, I WWOOFed for a really cool couple, working in their café for 4 hours a day. What is nice about this type of work is that you get your dose of home-life, as when you’ve been away for a while you tend to miss the cosiness of home.

When you travel you meet so many people along the way that it is easier if you can be flexible with your plans. If you are traveling solo, working abroad is a great way to meet potential traveling partners for a part of your trip.

Overall, I believe that it is so beneficial working in a country, rather than simply traveling around, taking pictures, and leaving. You feel more at home, make more friends (who you can visit another time!), whilst getting experience in varying fields of work.

The most important thing is to be confident and not be scared of not knowing exactly where you will be working, or what you will be doing, two weeks down the line.

My advice is to be spontaneous, and enjoy all that a new and exciting country can offer you! Talk to me through my Facebook page or join the Working Abroad Magazine group on Facebook where there is a discussion board, and people who have worked in Oz and New Zealand can tell you more about what it’s really like!

Have Fun!