A Working Holiday in New Zealand: Getting Work Ready – Everything I Wish I’d Known

16 Nov

11 mins read

Job Seeker job seeker new zealand temping travel working holiday Working Holiday Visa

Getting yourself organised for a working holiday looks a little different from getting yourself organised for a normal holiday – or at least it should! Imagine you’re packing for that exciting week away in Ibiza…perhaps you’ll plan your outfits, look up a few nice restaurants, and do a quick Google to figure out where you can get cash out. If you even think about how you’ll get in touch with your friends and family at all, you’ll probably assume your phone from home will work in Spain.

Packing and organising for 12+ months on the other side of the world requires a lot more research, planning and energy. If you are organised, you’ll be able to maximise your time and enjoyment when you arrive, and save yourself a few logistical headaches. The good news for you is that my experiences of getting organised and work ready for a working holiday in New Zealand, can help you to avoid the pitfalls and problems that some lesser-organised people may encounter. Read on to find out exactly what you need to do to get work and life ready for a working holiday in New Zealand.

Visa sorted?

Naturally, the first thing you are going to want to do is ensure you are entering New Zealand legally. We don’t want any massive holiday whoopsies, where you spend hours at immigration at the airport, before being sent home for not having the right stamp in your passport! The good news is that young people of many nationalities are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand, and, it’s easy to apply. For the full rundown on Working Holiday Visas, I recommend going back and reading my first blog in this series.

Next steps after you have a visa

I am going to assume for the purposes of this blog that you’ve already got your visa sorted, your plane tickets are booked (yippee!) and you’re wondering ‘now what?’. It’s the ‘now what?’ that I will cover in this blog.

Depending on your visa, you’ll likely have 12 or 23 months in beautiful New Zealand, and that might sound like a long time. However as the saying goes, time flies when you are having fun, and let me assure you, you’ll be having fun once you get here!

Get yourself temp-work ready

Don’t waste precious working or travel time on administrative tasks that you could have sorted out before you get here. The goal is to hit the ground running. If you are here in NZ on a working holiday visa, you’ll be looking for temp work (read more on that here and here). The pace of temp work– applying for it, interviewing, starting the job – can be really quick. For example, you might check in with your Recruitment Consultant on Thursday (more on that process next week), and by Friday, they’ve got a job for you, that starts the following Monday! This is truly ideal, because once you arrive in Aotearoa, you’ll want to quickly start earning money to fund your life and travels. But it does mean you don’t have time for messing about.

There are a few things you’ll need to make it quick and easy to begin working, and earning money in Aotearoa:

Proof of Address

‘Proof of address’ is a letter or document that has your full name and New Zealand address on it, which is essentially evidence that you have a place to live, and includes where that place is located in Aotearoa.

Why you need Proof of Address

It’s really important you obtain Proof of Address, because it’s required to open an NZ bank account, which you’ll need in order to have your wages paid (generally, employers won’t pay into an overseas account) AND to get a tax number, which in New Zealand is called an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number.

What qualifies as Proof of Address?

You need something official. Unfortunately it’s not as easy as writing where you’ll be living on a piece of paper! There’s a range of documents that are accepted, usually things like a recent power, gas or water bill, a tenancy agreement, or a document issued by an NZ Government agency. Individual banks have their own guidelines, so you’ll need to check with your chosen bank to find out exactly what you will need.

How do I get ‘Proof of Address?’

Switched-on readers will probably have already anticipated the potential issues with getting proof of address when you are not yet in the country. Yes, it can be tricky!

Here’s my top tip: if you have booked accommodation for when you arrive, for example, at a hostel or backpackers, an Air BNB or hotel, you can contact your booked accommodation and politely request a letter which includes the address and states that you’ll be ‘living’ there. Not all accommodation will provide this, and sometimes the bank may not accept it as proof of address, but – often they do, so it’s the best place to start.

If you’ve got other plans (…or no plans) then you might have to tackle this step when you get here – but be mindful that you WILL need it at some point.

New Zealand Bank Account

Sorry folks, you cannot use your bank account from back home. For the duration of your stay, if you want to work and get paid, then you need to have your own personal account, through a bank in New Zealand.

How do I get an account?

As long as you have your working holiday visa sorted, most of the Kiwi banks will allow you to apply 90 to 180 days before you arrive. Mark it in your calendar if you are coming in 2023 because that’s not too far away! I always highly recommend this step to the people I know, because I honestly think it makes life so much easier.

Activate your bank account

Once you are here in New Zealand, part two of the account opening process is usually to visit your local branch, in order to verify your identify, and activate your account. This step is essential for ensuring your account is ready to use. It’s also important to remember that many of the banks will require you to book an appointment to activate your account, you can’t just turn up and hope for the best, so check if yours requires an appointment.

Putting money in your account before you arrive

Most banks will allow you to deposit money into your account before you arrive, there’s usually a minimum deposit amount required. Note that you won’t be able to withdraw any of that money until your account is activated, see the point above! (and put that in your diary too).

Which bank do I choose?

That’s up to you, my friend. There are a number of banks here in New Zealand and I’ll leave you to figure out the pros and cons of each.

Below is a list of the leading banks, with links to their overseas account opening options. Some have easier processes to open than others.

BNZ (submit application online – no appointment needed, just arrive in branch)
ANZ (submit application online – book appointment to activate)
ASB (complete online enquiry form – book appointment to activate)
Westpac (print and complete application form, email the form and book appointment to activate)

My not-so-secret top tip is that from what I have heard, ANZ are the easiest bank to open an account with. They accepted a letter from the landlady at the AirBnB as proof of address. Please investigate for yourself because things do change.

Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number

An IRD number is similar to the NHI number in the UK, the Tax File number in Australia or the Personal Public Service Number (PPS No) in Ireland. It’s an eight or nine digit number, issued by the government, that is unique to you. If you earn income when you are here in Aotearoa, then you’ll need one of these. If you don’t, you’ll be taxed at the highest possible rate – which is definitely worth avoiding!

How to get an IRD number as a new arrival

You can apply for your IRD number as soon as you arrive, it’s free to get one, and easy to apply online. Your application will be processed on average within eight to ten working days. Below is the link for if you’ve just arrived, and need to apply for your IRD:

New arrival to New Zealand – IRD number application

IRD Timing tips

You can’t get your IRD number until you have a fully-functioning bank account, so I recommend that you make sure you sort that out before you arrive, and then schedule and complete part two, activating your account, in the first few days that you are in the country, to make it all smooth sailing.

What you need to apply

Assuming you have a working holiday visa, you’ll need:

your passport details
your Immigration New Zealand Application Number
your most recent overseas tax number (if you have one)
an NZ bank account, showing your name and account number, or customer due diligence (CDD), if you have one.

Can I apply for IRD BEFORE I arrive?

Bonus points to you if you want to be extra organised – yes, you can complete your IRD request before you arrive, as long as you have already opened your NZ bank account, and are happy to provide some extra details. There’s a different application form to use if you are currently overseas, the link is below:

Living overseas – IRD number application

For overseas application, you’ll need each of these:

photo identification (ID), such as a passport
proof of address, for example, a letter from your utilities company
tax identification number from your home country or territory
proof of reason for applying for IRD number, for example, working here or buying property here
a fully functioning New Zealand bank account or Customer due diligence – IR997 form

Mobile Phones in NZ

I’m assuming you want to stay connected with family and friends back home, as well as newer friends and fellow travellers; that you want to be able to arrange interviews and talk to potential employers, as well as schedule future travel plans and activities? Yes? Then you’ll of course need a mobile (cell) phone. It’s not going to be economical to use your home-country plan, so the simplest thing to do is to use your own phone (handset) from home, and get an NZ sim card.

There are a number of phone providers here in New Zealand, offering a wide range of packages. Below is a list of common providers, with links to their websites:

Mobile phone Plan terminology

There’s a whole language around what kind of plan you get so I’ve compiled this easy guide for you:

Prepay: This is a type of phone plan that has no contract. You pay as much or as little in advance towards your phone bill. For more info on Prepay, read this article, 8 Reasons to Choose a Prepay Plan.

Plan: It is a general term for the offer from the provider, that you will be using to use your phone. It is often monthly, but can also be weekly.

Pay as you go: Paying per text, call, data usage at a flat rate. It is the opposite of a “plan”.

Practical steps to get your sim card and plan

You can usually organise a sim and plan online. The other easy option is to visit them in person – there’s usually a physical store in whichever city or suburb you are located in, and they often have a storefront in your local mall. I think it’s a good idea to make this one of your first ‘once I land in NZ’ jobs, and get connected straight away.

Your work-ready-check list

As you’ll see from this blog, it actually won’t take too much focus and admin to get yourself set and ready to work in NZ, IF you are organised and know what to do – which you do now!

To make things extra easy, you can check things off as you go.

Working holiday Visa
Proof of Address
Bank Account applied for
Bank Account ‘activated’
IRD number
NZ Mobile phone connection

Finding a job in New Zealand

You’re all sorted and ready to find work? Congratulations! For all the info you need on the actual process of finding a job, you’ll need to wait until I hit go on next week’s blog ‘Ten ways to find a job in New Zealand’. See you then!

Download Gemma’s Work Ready Checklist

Gemma Hill

Principal Consultant

A bit about me In 2016, I arrived in New Zealand from the UK and my recruitment journey began. With experience in people focussed industries like healthcare and hospitality across the UK and…

More about Gemma

Could it be time for a change?

Looking for a permanent role, or thinking about temping or contract work?

Why New Zealand? The Pros and Cons of a Working Holiday in New Zealand

Gemma Hill

9 Nov

10 mins read

Job Seeker job seeker new zealand travel working holiday Working Holiday Visa

When I’m chatting with friends and family overseas, it’s the question that I’m asked most often: so, what’s it like living in New Zealand? The short answer is easy – it’s great! After all, I am writing this from my home base in Auckland, where I still reside, over six years after first arriving for what was supposed to be a brief working holiday. Of course, as real life tends to be, the full answer is a little more complicated. No big life-changing move is without its ups and downs. Even though the UK is culturally similar to New Zealand, and we share the same language (kind of!), life here is just a little bit different from home.

If you are interested in the more nuanced answer to ‘what’s it like to live and work in NZ?’ then this blog is for you. I have spent some time thinking about my experience to date, and have pulled together my personal list of Pros and Cons of the Kiwi experience. Emphasis on the personal – because what I may see as a negative, might not be for you? Read on to find out.

The Pros

Beautiful scenery

I’ll begin with the obvious one. New Zealand is gorgeous. It’s a country known for its natural beauty, and there’s a huge variety of outdoor landscapes to enjoy. There are tropical rainforests and beaches in the Far North, rugged coastlines the length of the country with golden sand on the east coast, and striking black sand on the west. NZ has a multitude of untouched coastal islands, sparkling lakes, fjords, and lush green forests. There are spectacular, soaring mountains with breath-taking alpine landscapes, and plenty of snow in the South Island, if that’s your thing. The scenery is truly diverse, and I think there’s something for everyone. And because New Zealand is relatively small it’s easy to see much of what the country has to offer, even if you are only here for a short time. You are never too far from a beach, a bush walk, a vineyard, or a new place to explore. My words may not do this beautiful country justice; if you are into the outdoors and looking for some dreamy inspiration, I recommend this section of the NZ tourism website.

Relaxed culture

New Zealand is a laid-back kind of place. From the way that people talk, to how they dress, ‘casual’ is an apt description. Like any society, there are extremes, but overall the culture here feels very egalitarian. There’s not too much worrying about your background, where you went to school or University. My experience of the workplace is a similar story. While the office where I work is officially ‘corporate’, the corporateness is just a tad more chilled out than you might find in large city in England, for example. I’m really enjoying the relaxed environment, and feel this is one of the big advantages of living in Aotearoa.

Life and work balance

I think this Pro is related to point above— in my opinion, the whole work/life balance equation is tipped favourably in the direction of life, here in NZ. The pace is a little slower. It’s accepted that you do have a life outside of work, and you’d like to leave on time to go for your walk / play sport / meet your pals. Weekends are for friends and family. Most office environments tend to close down, or work reduced hours over the big summer break—yes, that’s Christmas-time down under! There’s plenty of public holidays (12 – slightly more than the UK) and generally, a helpful attitude to balancing work with relaxation time. Of course, every job and situation comes with stresses, but from what I’ve experienced, and observed, there is just a tad less pressure than you may experience in your typical workplace in London or Manchester for example.

Great work opportunities

New Zealand was impacted by COVID, like everywhere else in the world, but the economy doesn’t seem to have suffered any lasting damage. Certainly there is a high demand for workers, and unemployment rates are incredibly low. What this means for Working Holiday Visa holders, and other visa-holding migrants, is that there is a LOT of opportunity in the job market. Businesses are crying out for workers, and if you get your resume looking polished, yourself work ready, and search in the right places, you should have no problem finding the work you want while you are here. In last week’s blog, I discussed the temp work opportunities you can enjoy on Working Holiday Visa, so make sure you read that post, if you haven’t already. My next two blog posts will cover exactly what you need to do to successfully find a job here in NZ, so make sure you check back next week to read more on this topic.

Friendly Kiwis

The locals I have encountered in Auckland, and while travelling the country, have been friendly, welcoming, and especially willing to help—Kiwis love a lost tourist with a map! New Zealanders always seem interested to hear about who you are, where you are from and what travel plans you may have. I’d describe it as more of a low-key, relaxed friendliness rather than big extroversion, which is kind of NZ culture in a nutshell!

As for the native birds, seeing a real life Kiwi is a little trickier. Kiwis are nocturnal and reportedly a little shy, but there are wildlife centres, and wilderness walks across the length of the country where you can see one, and hot tip – they have a special night-time Kiwi habitat at Auckland Zoo.

The Cons

The distance

By most measures, New Zealand is far, far away, and it’s isolated. A trip to ‘nearby’ Australia is at least a three hour flight. If your country of origin is somewhere in Europe, then jetting home for a quick visit is probably out of the question, with the shortest flight distance being at minimum 24 hours, and the cost likely to be significant (especially now, post-COVID). The closest mainland US destination is 13 hours. Basically, you are literally on the other side of the world, and travel anywhere else is a big effort. Here’s my positive spin: it’s a good reason to make the most of seeing the whole of New Zealand when you are here!

Homesickness

Homesickness is something you might experience when you move away from home, and wherever you move to, but I do think it is compounded and magnified in New Zealand by the distance, as per my point above. I miss my friends and family back home, and it’s no easy effort to see them. Thank goodness for digital technologies! I do a lot of video calling, WhatsApp chatting and updating my Facebook on my latest travels to make sure I stay in touch with loved ones.

It’s quiet out there

New Zealand has a population of just under five million, and this means it is a relatively quiet place. There simply aren’t a lot of people around, even in the biggest cities like Auckland and Wellington. Of course, there are plenty of bars, nightclubs and restaurants etc (the foodie scene is big here) but there aren’t quite as many options as you’d find in a bigger city. Places close early. There are fewer festivals, and less chances to see your favourite bands, as many of them don’t tour here. If you are used to a faster-paced, busy lifestyle, then NZ may not deliver. Of course, on the flipside, if you prefer the quieter life then you may find all of this a big tick in the ‘Pro’ category.

Housing quality

A friend of a friend moved to Wellington in the middle of winter, and had already organised to move straight into a house-share with friends. When they arrived in the middle of the day as planned, no one else was home, so they duly let themselves in with the key that had been left out. They put their backpack down and because it was really cold inside the house, spent the best part of an hour searching for the central heating switch. Reader, there was no central heating. In fact, there was no heating, full stop! Thankfully, landlords are now required to meet a minimum standard of heating and ventilation, but some houses can still be a bit cold and draughty (especially the pretty old Villas and Bungalows – they weren’t built for the colder weather!). Luckily, much of New Zealand is fairly temperate, but when you’re house hunting, try to find somewhere that’s been fully insulated and preferably has a heat pump (I’ll share more on finding a place to live in a later blog). Otherwise you could always do what the Kiwis do…put on a jumper!

Access to cheap shopping

Remember how New Zealand is really isolated and far away? Another impact of this is that there are a) fewer products and goods to choose from and b) you don’t get the really cheap deals you might see in continental Europe, the UK or the US. Don’t worry, you can still get what you need—and there’s a thriving second hand goods culture and market here. However you probably won’t see the full range of choices that you are used to, and it might cost a little more than you expect.

Having said that, we are starting to see more of the bigger, popular overseas brands coming to NZ. We’ve got Zara, H&M, JD Sports and more recently, Costco. There are a lot of great online shops too, I still get my deliveries from ASOS, the order take a little while to get here but they offer free returns.

It’s worth it.

And so ends my personal list of my pros and cons of living in New Zealand. For me, the minor niggles are massively outweighed by the positives, you only have to take a look at my recent holiday photos to see that it’s worth it!

Your dream destination for 2023?

If I’ve persuaded you that that New Zealand is the perfect working holiday visa destination, good news, the NZ government has recently made changes to help increase access to working holiday makers already here, and those looking to travel to New Zealand. This means that more people can come to visit and work in New Zealand. Get your visa sorted, and come on over!

Next week’s essential reading

Tune in next week when I will be writing all about getting work-ready. I’ll share my own story, and include all of the bits and pieces and practical advice on what you need to get organised in advance. Then the week after it’s a big one: 10 ways to find a job in New Zealand.

Gemma Hill

Principal Consultant

A bit about me In 2016, I arrived in New Zealand from the UK and my recruitment journey began. With experience in people focussed industries like healthcare and hospitality across the UK and…

More about Gemma

Could it be time for a change?

Looking for a permanent role, or thinking about temping or contract work?