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successful work stop-off points, from hospitality at the ski fields to working in a bustling Rotorua hostel. The ski season (June to October) offers the fun of the slopes with a permanent party atmosphere. Restaurant and bar staff, cleaning and numerous other positions are on offer, especially if you’re a qualified ski instructor. But get those CVs in early (most resorts begin hiring at the start of March). New Zealand is farming country and there are often extra labourers needed, making harvest work the classic traveller’s job. It can be tough and it won’t make you millions, but working in the sunny outdoors, surrounded by jaw-to-the-floor beautiful scenery can often beat a stuffy office. It’s available all year round (though December to May is the main picking season), in numerous spots. Hostels in the main fruit-picking regions will often help working holiday-makers find work, offer cheap rates for accommodation and arrange transport. The Immigration Department website has a good guide to which work opportunities are available in each region (immigration.govt.nz).
Types of jobs Office jobs: For temp/office work, you’ll need to be well organised, with a good CV, references and suitable clothes – not boardshorts and ‘jandals’ (the quite brilliant Kiwi word for flip-flops). Check out national and local newspapers and don’t forget to sign up with several temping agencies. Accountants, bankers, clerks, computer wizards and receptionists are always in demand during peak periods. Sales, promotions and telemarketing jobs are often advertised on hostel notice boards. Medicine: There’s always demand for nurses, doctors and physios in New Zealand, but you may find it necessary to undertake extra work in order to match the country’s qualifications. And be prepared to jump through several hoops for registration (however, once you have it, it often opens doors to working in Australia as well). Au pair and childcare: If you’re experienced with children and have good references and qualifications, it should be easy to sign up with a specialist agency. Hospitality: Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Queenstown and Dunedin all have a busy nightlife year round so there are plenty of hospitality jobs up for grabs, but keep in mind that Kiwi students may also be chasing these jobs. Often the most effective ways of landing a job is to walk in to a place you want to work. Chefs are usually in great demand due to a shortage. You may also be able to find work operating ski-lifts, working in hotels or leaflet-
dropping. Ask at hostels for the best leads. Agriculture/volunteering: If you are interested in doing some farm work (either paid or in return for board and lodging), there are several organisations which can help you find a placement. Try the International Agricultural Exchange Association at agriventure.com; WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) at wwoof.co.nz; Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (conservationvolunteers. co.nz); or Farm Helpers in New Zealand (fhinz.co.nz). Harvest work: A wide range of fruit and veggie crops are grown in the fertile soil of New Zealand which means there are loads of jobs for travellers. The main areas for this kind of work on the North Island are outside Auckland, Kerikeri and Paihia (Bay of Islands), Gisborne (Poverty Bay), Tauranga (Bay of Plenty), Napier and Hastings (Hawkes Bay). On the South Island, Nelson, Motueka, Blenheim, Tapawera, Alexandra, Roxburgh and Christchurch are the main areas to head to. Prime times for harvesting can vary between areas. Make sure you negotiate a rate of pay before you start. You’ll need some old clothes, plenty of sunscreen and a pair of sturdy boots. Harvest times: Grapes (January-April), apples (January-May), Kiwi fruit (May-July), planting and pruning (October), apricots, berries, citrus (November-December), nectarines, plums, apple thinning (NovemberDecember), melons (December-February). Check out seasonalwork.co.nz for more information.
Employment websites TNT’s job website (tntjobs.co.nz) is crammed with opportunities, covering all sectors and areas, especially backpacker jobs. The main site (tntdownunder.com) also has plenty of stories tips about visas and finding work, plus interviews with travellers already working in New Zealand. Also head here if you want to sign up to have TNT’s weekly jobs email alert delivered straight to your inbox. Companies and organisations offer employment services and information at newzealandnow.govt.nz National newspaper The NZ Herald (nzherald. co.nz) publishes online employment classifieds. One of New Zealand’s biggest internet employment sites is seek.co.nz New Zealand Job Search (nzjs.co.nz) covers everything from construction work to IT support jobs. If you’re looking for short-term roles, especially on the NZ Harvest Trail, head to seasonalwork.co.nz Southern Doctor (southerndoctor.co.nz) is for finding medical jobs in New Zealand and Australia. If you’re after a snow resort job for the winter, nzski.com is your best bet. ❚ TNTDOWNUNDER.COM 147