Live, Work & Travel in New Zealand

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Top Sites

Backpackerboard.co.nz – A backpacking website for New Zealand. Includes seasonal job vacancies.

Budget Backpacker Hostels – An accommodation guide to NZ’s BBH network of hostels. Also includes BBH hostel work and other vacancies.

Employment in New Zealand

Employers, Agencies & Placement Services

Canstaff – Farm and backpacker jobs agency.

Just Cuts – Qualified hairdressers are wanted to work in 140 salons in Australia and New Zealand.

Manpower – New Zealand branch of the worldwide employment agency.

Mr Apple – Mr Apple NZ Ltd offers fruit picking and packing jobs in the Hawke’s Bay and Nelson areas. The dedicated employment website linked to Mr Apple no longer seems to be available but they state they employ 160 permanent staff and take on an extra 1,500 for the peak season.

Mrs Jones’ Orchard – Cherry pickers and packers wanted beginning mid December and ending in early February. Situated near Cromwell in Central Otago (South Island), accommodation is available and the website includes an online job application form.

Quinn Staff Recruiters – Auckland based recruitment agency specialising in office, insurance and travel and tourism jobs.

Parker Bridge Recruitment – Accounting and finance recruitment agency in Auckland.

Providore – Temp hospitality staff.

Spider Personnel – Offer a wide range of NZ based jobs from technical trades to sales and marketing.

Tonix Health Recruitment New Zealand – Specialises in recruiting nurses and other health professionals to RMN, ODP, anaesthetic technicians, mental health, midwives jobs and other vacancies in New Zealand.

Employment Resources for Finding Work in New Zealand

Advice & Useful Sites for Finding Work

Aranga Backpackers – Fruit picking, packing and general orchard work is available to backpackers in Kerikeri all year round. This hostel will help you find some.

Australia and New Zealand Outlook – Now owned by TNT this useful and free tourism and immigration newspaper has relaunched as a magazine and is now available to read online.

Backpack New Zealand – This presentable site provides a directory of services and activities for the backpacker, photgraphs and some work information.

Blue Nation – Superyacht crew training. A list of New Zealand based recruitment companies can also be found on their links page.

Budget Backpacker Hostels – An accommodation guide to NZ’s BBH network of hostels. Also includes BBH hostel work and other vacancies.

Farm Helpers in New Zealand – Sell a booklet listing over 190 farms throughout New Zealand that are willing to offer food and board in exchange for 4 to 6 hours work a day.

FRENZ International – Whether you are a New Zealander wanting to work in any region of New Zealand, or a qualified overseas worker, that meets immigration requirements, who wants to gain valuable work experience in New Zealand, FRENZ helps with finding jobs in the Kiwi countryside. All jobs come with rent free accommodation provided.

Gap Year New Zealand – A gap year travel guide for people thinking of taking some time out in New Zealand and includes visa information, a directory and gap year ideas.

New Zealand Job Search – Good information for those looking to work in New Zealand, including visa eligibility assessment form. There is plenty of information for people looking to migrate to New Zealand including importing pets and buying a house.

New Zealand Jobs – Jobs and career information.

The Rotten Apple – Backpacker hostel that can assist with finding fruit picking work.

Seasonal Work in New Zealand – Assistance with finding seasonal work on the NZ harvest trail.

Seek Communications – Job search and career information.

UniJobs.co.nz – Job search links relating specifically to academics and university staff who wish to find work in NZ.

Working In New Zealand – Jobs in New Zealand for returning New Zealanders and skilled migrants.

Gap Year & Voluntary Work in New Zealand

Unpaid Positions & Adventure

Almond House Backpackers – Work exchange jobs in Nelson.

Alpine Holiday Apartments and Campground – A quiet family park in the forest two kilometres from Hanmer Spring. They will provide accommodation and a bike for 14 hours labour each week. The work is mostly cleaning and gardening, with a bit of painting and, if experienced, possibly reception duties too. Couples or friends travelling together are preferred.

Annie’s Nirvana Lodge – In Takaka, a friendly mature non smoker is preferred to clean and help in reception for four hours a day, with one day off a week. Minimum stay is one month.

Astray Motel and Backpackers – Cleaning and bed making are the chores needing doing in Rotorua in exchange for free accommodation. The work is for around three hours a day, with one day off per week, for a minimum of three weeks.

Birdsong Backpackers – Enjoy the experience being part of a team at this small, family run backpackers in Hokitika. Daily cleaning and gardening work buys your accommodation. Two week minimum.

Bon Accord – Sometimes looks for a savvy English speaking volunteer to help on reception in Akaroa. A free bunk and one staff meal is offered in return.

Earthwise Valley – A New Zealand based, charitable, volunteer run, sustainable living project. The volunteer programme will suit people interested in learning about sustainable living, enjoying the outdoors, and living a saner, richer and simpler life.

Global Village Backpackers – We have seen this Greymouth hostel advertising for work exchange staff.

Hekerua Lodge – Two hours’ work a day in Waiheke will invite free accommodation.

Jailhouse Accommodation – Do a three month stretch working for your stay in Christchurch.

LKNZ Backpackers – Stay for a minimum of two weeks doing odd jobs and cleaning and there’s free accommodation in a bike to get around Ohakune n it for you.

National Park Backpackers – A hostel found in a small alpine village in Central North Island, near the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. They could do with a motivated traveller willing to help with the daily housekeeping for four hours a day in exchange for food and a dorm bed. They provide one day off a week and they want someone to stick around for a fortnight, but would prefer longer.

Nelson Beach Hostel – Two hours of cleaning is required to earn a bed here. A minimum stay of one month is required.

Neptunes International Backpackers – A work exchange in Greymouth is possible.

New Zealand Trust for Conservation Volunteers – NZTCV provides information on wildlife, botanical, restoration and other conservation projects found across the length of the land of the long white cloud.

Noah’s Ark Backpackers – Do three hours a day helping with the cleaning and laundry or anything else that needs doing and they will hand over a bike and free accommodation in Greymouth. They ask for a minimum stay of seven days but are happy if you can stay longer.

The Old Countryhouse – Looks for someone kind, friendly and outgoing to work in their reception. Work is for three and a half days per week in Christchurch.

Paradiso Backpacker Hostel – We have seen Nelson’s Paradiso advertising for a night porter to work on a part paid and part for free accommodation basis for three or four nights a week. Applicants were expected to stay for at least a couple of months.

Sequoia Lodge & Backpackers – Looks for friendly people to help in Picton for up to three hours per day, six days a week in return for accommodation, breakfast, choc pudding and ice cream every night, a weekly woofer dinner and other extras. Duties include mainly cleaning but also some driving if you have a valid licence.

Skyway Lodge – Near Auckland Airport, Skyway Lodge will exchange a shared room for three hours’ work a day.

Stables Lodge – Along with a place to stay in Napier, horse treks and seasonal fresh fruit are among the perks offered to their volunteer workers. In return volunteers are expected to keep the hostel super clean or staff reception for three hours a day.

Sunflower Lodge – Looks for happy travellers to work for their accommodation to help keep their New Plymouth hostel clean for two and a half hours a day, six days a week. Hours are two and a half per day, six days per week. Work in reception is sometimes available too.

Sunseeker Lodge – Friendly, reliable people who would like to help with cleaning, gardening, general maintenance and reception work in Whangaroa can exchange their labours for accommodation and kayaks.

Surf ‘N’ Snow Backpackers – This Auckland hostel invites backpackers on a tight budget interested in a work exchange to contact them. For those with a working holiday visa they offer working holiday packages that include accommodation and assistance in obtaining an IRD number and opening a bank account.

Tatahi Lodge – You must be able to stay at least three or four weeks to work for your stay in Hahei Beach.

TripInn Hostel – Will divvy up free accommodation in Westport, along with use of the hostel bikes to one or two people able to keep the place clean for a couple of hours each morning. A one week minimum stay is required.

Vagabond Backpackers – Accommodation for a month in Christchurch is provided to travellers willing to clean or join the reception team.

WWOOF New Zealand – WWOOF allows volunteers to stay on organic farms, exchanging labour for a bed for the night.

YHA Volunteer Programme – In exchange for a couple of hours of voluntary service you can receive one free night in a dorm room in one of the YHA’s participating hostels. The work could be cleaning common areas in the hostel, weeding the garden or anything in between. A dozen or so YHA hostels across New Zealand take part in the scheme.

Living in New Zealand

Real Estate and Resources for Staying Long Term

Auckland Gumtree – Classified ads for Auckland and other kiwi cities, including jobs and accommodation.

Bayleys – New Zealand estate agents also covering Fiji and the Pacific.

ENZ – A guide to living and working in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand – Work visa information.

North Shore Immigration Service – Immigation consultants.

Realestate.co.nz – Property portal for New Zealand.

Travelling in New Zealand

Accommodation & Getting Around

AA New Zealand Travel Guides – Travel planning guides providing worldwide accommodation options, activities, attractions, transport and the latest events.

A J Hackett Bungy – Bungy jumping in New Zealand from the guys that initiated the madness.

Apollo Motorhome Holidays – Specialise in campervan and motorhome hire in Australia and New Zealand including the “Cheapa Campa”, aimed at the budget-minded traveller.

Auckland Tourism – Official tourist site for Auckland.

Escape Campervan Hire – See New Zealand in style in these brand new individually painted camper vans.

Flying Kiwi Adventure Travel – New Zealand adventure travel operators Flying Kiwi offer deals for any budget including adventure, bus, bicycle and wilderness tours. Circumnavigate NZ with this green tour operator’s Flexibility Travel Pass.

Fossick – A travel guide dedicated to busy women traveling locally in NZ, Australia and the South Pacific. Packed with reviews and recommendations from other local women.

Getabout – Campervan rental. The road signs are in English, the roads are long and empty, the countryside is beautiful and they drive on the proper side of the road. Who wouldn’t want to drive around New Zealand?

Great New Zealand – A New Zealand vacation planning resource. Hundreds of searchable listings for accommodation, activities, tourist attractions, tours, transport, travel agents, tourism guides, maps and more.

Intercity Coachlines – New Zealand bus travel discounts and travel passes for backpackers.

KEA Campers Australia and New Zealand – Campervans, motorhomes and 4WD’s to explore Australia and New Zealand at your own pace, experienced multilingual staff and an extensive network of rental depots.

Kiwi Experience – Backpacker bus service.

Kiwistyle Travel – Offering backpacker tours, luxury travel and New Zealand travel options.

Newmans Coach Lines New Zealand – Newmans provide deluxe coach travel services linking all major cities and tourist destinations throughout New Zealand plus day excursions and sightseeing for independent travellers.

New Zealand – Official NZ tourism site.

NewZealandFrontiers.com – Motor home rentals.

New Zealand Travelpass – Money saving travel passes for backpackers and independent travellers of all ages offering flexible bus travel around New Zealand, inter island ferry, rail, air travel and accommodation add-ons.

Off the Rails Cycle Tours – A unique New Zealand cycling experience on the Otago Central Rail Trail. Depart from Queenstown or Clyde.

Queenstown Adventure Group New Zealand – Offers adventure 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Information about bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, tandem skydiving and thrilling helicopter flights.

Transfercar – Get your hands around the wheel of a free car or campervan by taking vehicles from where they are to where rental companies want them to be.

Walkabout Motorhome & Campervan Rentals NZ – Luxury or budget campervans and motorhomes.

YHA New Zealand – Budget accommodation and travel packages.

Other Useful New Zealand Websites

Culture, News…

CCEL Auckland – An Auckland based English language school offering courses to study and learn English as a Second language for general communication, business or academic purposes.

New Zealand Herald – Newspaper.