A Working Holiday in New Zealand: Best places to work, live and travel

14 Dec

9 mins read

Job Seeker advice job seeker working holiday Working Holiday Visa

You might be a little surprised by the title of this blog. You’re right, I said I wasn’t going to pick a favourite place in New Zealand. But I do want to provide a little more intel on locations in my chosen country of residence. What I believe is that there are many ‘best’ places here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. It’s a beautiful, diverse country; each region has unique features and charms, whether you’re planning to work or simply to visit, travel and enjoy.

In this blog, I’m going to give you some more insight — from my perspective as a young-ish British traveller-turned-resident — into the different destinations around New Zealand that you may wish to consider if you are a) looking for work and/or b) wanting to travel, explore and play. Naturally there is some overlap, and you could very well find yourself working somewhere spectacular that many consider the pinnacle of holiday destinations (Queenstown enters the chat!). Why not enjoy the best of both worlds?!

New Zealand: a recap

Let’s begin with a quick primer on New Zealand: it’s a small, geographically-isolated country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Made up of two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island, and over 700 smaller islands (fact checked, but still surprising!). History buffs might wish to know that New Zealand was one of the last major landmasses settled by humans; that was back in the 13^th century, by eastern Polynesians, who would become our Māori people.

Though there are often comparisons made with neighbouring Australia, New Zealand operates on a different scale. The Australian cities of Melbourne or Sydney each have five million city dwellers respectively, while here in New Zealand that figure of five million is the TOTAL population, scattered the length and breadth of the nation.

The small population of New Zealand does have impact on the volume of people in any given location, and what is considered an ‘urban centre’. As the clever person you are, you will no doubt be putting two and two together by now. While there jobs just about everywhere, you really need to be looking in the biggest cities and towns to enjoy a decent range of options — and chance of employment. Here’s what you need to know:

Key centres for employment

Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau

Also known as the City of Sails — or the right place to be if you like boats!

Population: just over 1.6 million, making it New Zealand’s most populous city.

The centre of Auckland is located on a narrow isthmus, with harbours on either side, and it’s very much a city built around water — you are never far from a view of the sea, or a lovely beach. Auckland’s geographical spread is large, and as mentioned, it’s the biggest city, people-wise, by a significant amount. Naturally that means there are more businesses, more shops, bars, restaurants, and of course, greater job-hunting opportunity.

Auckland’s often talked about as being expensive, and while it’s true that there is some pricey real estate and fancy locales, it’s possible to live a decent life here as a working holiday visa holder, especially if you embrace living in shared accommodation. Like any large city, it has its share of issues (ahem… traffic) but I have found it a lovely place to live and work, and it’s a great base for exploring.

Hamilton | Kirikiriroa

Population: 180k

Gateway to the central North Island, historical Hamilton rests on the long, winding Waikato river. This lively city is at the centre of a rich agricultural area, servicing the Waikato region, and home to much of New Zealand’s dairy industry, and several science research facilities. Local attractions include the incredible Hamilton Gardens, glow worms in nearby Waitomo, and of course, for movie buffs, the Hobbiton Village. Hamilton is seen as a growing force in the Kiwi economy, and could be an excellent place for rural and agricultural-minded job seekers to reside.

Tauranga

Population: 158k

Beautiful coastal Tauranga is home to the largest export port in New Zealand, and is surrounded by largely agricultural land (kiwifruit and avocados!). However, over the last few years there’s been growth and transformation in the local economy, with more businesses moving or starting up in the area. You’ll hear lots of chat from Aucklanders who consider a move to this sunny region (its only two and a half hours away) so why not consider it as a place to live, as well as to visit.

Wellington | Ponēke

Population: 419k

Wellington is the trés chic Capital city of New Zealand. Its geographical position at the south western tip of the North Island is probably why it has an (accurate) reputation for being very windy, also making it the gateway to the South Island via the Cook Strait ferry. Wellington is known as a creative, cultural hub, as well as being the centre of Government. The city itself is small and perfectly formed — highly walkable in the inner city, lots of lovely restaurants and cafes, world-class museums and fascinating attractions. Jobs wise there’s the full spectrum, but you’ll find more government related jobs here, and plenty of service-industry specialities.

Christchurch | Ōtautahi

Population: 392k

Ōtautahi is a pretty, thriving city located on the east coast of the South Island, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Settled by English immigrants in the 1850s, the city has a distinctively English feel to it, shown through the architecture and beautiful gardens. Christchurch has been rebuilt since the terrible earthquakes of 2011, and the revitalised city has become a tech centre in NZ; good news for like-minded job seekers. Christchurch makes an excellent base for work and travel—how good is to be only an hour from the snow at Mt Hutt, the hot pools at Hamner Springs, and the vast beauty of the Southern Alps?

Queenstown | Tāhuna

Population: 47k (yes, it’s little!)

She’s famous for a reason. Sitting pretty on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by dramatic and immensely beautiful alpine ranges, Queenstown was established in the 1860s following the discovery of gold. Since that time, the town has traded gold for a different kind of attraction — it’s known as the adventure capital of NZ. Whether you are into snowboarding, river rafting or heli-biking (yes, it’s a thing) there’s an adventurous activity for everyone in Queenstown. Add lovely wineries, beautiful vistas and great food, and you can see why this little town, pre-COVID, was host to nearly three million visitors in a year. With all of this action, there’s a high demand for keen, enthusiastic workers, so Queenstown is also a great place to find a job, particularly if you are interested in hospitality work.

Dunedin | Ōtepoti

Population: 130k

Dunedin — in the far south of the South Island and located on the central-eastern coast of the Otago region — is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the southern hemisphere, surrounded by dramatic hills and a picturesque harbour. This compact city has got big University-town vibes; vibrant and fun, but never far from beautiful wildlife. As a commercial centre, it has global focus, and strong emphasis on design and innovation. While not a large town, it could be an excellent place to base yourself if you are into the rugged beauty of the surrounding Otago countryside and outdoor pursuits, while still enjoying the buzz of the tertiary town.

You’ve now read my overview of the key places to work in New Zealand, and it’s time to move on for some fun: where should you travel, explore and play?

When it’s time to play

There are plenty of touristy travel guides to Aotearoa elsewhere on the internet, and many of them are worth a read. However, I know my readers tune into this blog series for my lived experiences, so I do understand it would be particularly unhelpful for me to begin this section with the statement ‘just go anywhere!’. I was tempted though! There are so many options for you to have a great time travelling this lovely land, it’s difficult to go wrong. I reckon you could blindfold yourself, put a pin in the map and happily go to wherever it sticks — I’m sure there would be something beautiful for you to enjoy.

That said, you came for the list, and here it is, my Kiwi essentials: the best places to visit – according to Gemma. Each is linked with some suitable touristic info from my fave NZ tourism sites, so you can research that destination more thoroughly:

Gemma’s List of Best Places in NZ

Feedback and farewell

While I do love to hear from people who’ve read and enjoyed my blogs, no need to @ me if you think I’ve missed out on a great Kiwi gem! I’m well aware that I’ve probably missed many a favourite destination, but a list can only be so long. Truly, New Zealand has something for everyone. It’s a great place to explore, and a great place to live. When I arrived here back in 2016, hefty bag on my back, and dreams of adventure on my mind, I had no inkling that I would still be here, nearly seven years later. Aroha nui, Aotearoa.

This is my last blog on this topic. If you’ve enjoyed my series on a Working Holiday in New Zealand, I’d love to hear from you. Also, as something of an ambassador and advocate for the rewarding WHV programme, I’m also available for questions. You can reach me at gemma.hill@madison.co.nz.

If you are looking for the other blogs in this series, here is the full list in the order they were published:

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?

A Working Holiday in New Zealand: How to Meet People

Gemma Hill

7 Dec

9 mins read

Job Seeker advice job seeker working holiday Working Holiday Visa

I hadn’t really thought about it before now, but being a Recruitment Consultant is a bit like being a matchmaker, without the romance (though if there are any Netflix producers reading this, that could make a great TV series…). As the intermediary who helps match employers and job seekers, and makes all the introductions, I understand how anxiety-inducing it can be to meet new people, and how stressful it is wondering whether you’ll find the right fit – the right place and the right group of people, where you feel like you belong.

If you’ve just landed in a new country where you don’t know anyone, the stress and anxiety of meeting new people can be even worse than in an interview situation! Making a new group of friends can seem like such a big, insurmountable task – at least that’s how it felt for me! But don’t worry, I’m here to help with some tips, advice, and a handy list of the best places to go to meet like-minded people and make new friends.

Put in some effort

My first, and very key message, is: you need to try.

Back home you’ve probably accumulated a collection of besties, friends, acquaintances, work colleagues and maybe some randoms you met at cousin Sally’s birthday party. You probably didn’t have to try very hard to acquire this group; most likely it all happened naturally and organically. However, that won’t necessarily be the case once you land in Aotearoa for your much-anticipated adventure. Most people you meet will already have their own group of friends, so you’re going to need to put in some effort to make connections, and my advice is to make peace with that. You might need to try a little harder than usual to build rapport, collect phone numbers, and make friends, but it will be worth it.

The proximity effect

Research shows that the closer you live to another person, the more likely you are to be friends with them, despite living in a world where nearly everyone has social media. This feels like common sense, but it’s also a useful insight for those of us who are intentionally looking to make connections, and even more relevant in New Zealand, where it can be difficult to travel long distances to visit people unless you have your own transport (public transport is less common and not super reliable!). So, in addition to making an effort, try to surround yourself with people and spend time in places where you’ll meet like-minded individuals. This is one of the reasons I mentioned in last week’s blog that I highly recommend staying in a backpackers when you first arrive in New Zealand.

My story

Many people have asked me how I managed the same transition, and I’ve talked a few times about my experience, so here’s how I handled things – not to say that I’m the best example, but I am pretty settled, with a great group of friends (and I did take some of my own advice)!

When I arrived in New Zealand, I was lucky enough to already have a friend living here who had a spare bed, so I stayed with that friend and unfortunately didn’t go the backpackers route (I would have otherwise!). I’d done a fair amount of planning, and I had joined a Facebook group that has subsequently become a big part of my life. Prior to arriving in Tāmaki Makarau, I spent quite a lot of time immersed in that group, connecting with members and asking for recommendations on everything from what suburbs to live in and where to find work opportunities, to the best places to go and things to do – you name the question, I probably asked it!

The group is called Brits in Auckland. Originally set up by a fellow Brit, when the time came for her to leave New Zealand she handed over the reins to myself and another admin. During my first year here, we started organising face-to-face meet ups for the group, and I made a tonne of friends through those interactions. Some of them are still here in Auckland today, and while others have returned back home or gone elsewhere overseas, they remain key people in my life. The Brits in Auckland group has become a great project for me, and it’s now grown to a group of over 6000 people! It remains a great source of community, connection, and fun. Speaking of my pet project…that leads nicely on to my list of the best ways to meet new friends here in Aotearoa:

1. Your Workplace or Social Space

I’m going to begin with the more obvious options, so I won’t dwell on them too long. Suffice to say, if you have a job or you’re heading out somewhere social – whether it be to a bar, club or pub – you immediately have the opportunity to meet new people and make new connections. Be open to chatting, apply my rule above (‘make an effort’), and you’ll soon start to build up a group of acquaintances that may lead to long-term friendship!

2. Social Media ‘Expat’ Groups

For anyone wondering, ‘expat’ is short for expatriate, which just means someone who lives outside their country of citizenship. These groups are great for meeting people from a similar cultural background, or who are in a similar situation to you. A bit of a safety net for when you arrive, these groups help you connect with other Working Holiday Visa holders or other travellers from across the globe. These types of groups are normally run via Facebook, so to join you’ll need your own Facebook account and there’s typically a simple ‘request to join’ process you follow before being granted membership. Here’s a list of some key groups I’m aware of, but there are loads more out there:

3. Meet Ups

Meet Ups are exactly what the name suggests; a way to meet up with like-minded people. It’s an online platform, self-described as a social network, that facilitates meeting other people IRL. The different Meet Up groups are organised by interests or locations etc, and you really can find a meet up for all sorts of interests! It might take a little while to find one that suits you or that ‘sticks’, but it’s worth pursuing. Below is a list of common meet ups that people I know have enjoyed:

4. Sports Groups

Remember how your mum was always trying to get you to join that netball team when you were younger so you could ‘make some nice friends’? Well, she was right, because sports are a great way to meet people. Kiwis love their sports (don’t worry, not just rugby!), and as I mentioned in an earlier blog, jobs in New Zealand normally offer a good work-life balance, so you’ll have the spare time to get some exercise while also making new connections. Whether you prefer football, cricket, hockey, or good old netball, visit Just Play to find a social sporting team near you, or try Googling your local sports centre to find their social leagues.

5. Travel Groups

You’re here in Aotearoa to travel aren’t you? So it makes sense to join a travel group! Not only does this give you valuable information about where to go, helping you schedule your itineraries and find the best place to buy that self-contained van, but it also gives you a chance to connect with others who are in the same situation – and that is excellent bonding material! As with many other groups, they’re normally run from Facebook; say what you like about Zuckerberg, but FB is a decent tool for this kind of activity. Here’s a snapshot view of the most popular travel groups I know of:

6. Community & Backpacker Noticeboards

Older generations think we don’t know how to use a pen and paper, but those community noticeboards (like you find in a supermarket check-out area) prove them wrong! Yep, old-fashioned notices on those little cards can be a great way to meet people! Fellow travellers will often put up cards, looking for someone to jump in with them on their next trip, to save on petrol and to share the expenses and joy of a wandering journey. You could try the same and post a card looking to meet like-minded people. Please just make sure that you’re little more wary, and do the necessary safety screening and checks before meeting someone in person.

Friends ahoy

Coming to New Zealand from a distant land on a Working Holiday Visa (or any other type of visa) is a big, life-changing adventure, and one where you can make new, life-long friends. What a magical opportunity! So while I know it’s not always easy, I reckon if you follow my advice, make an effort, and try out some of these options, you’ll be connecting with a like-minded crew of awesome humans before you know it.

Once you’ve got a few new pals, you’re probably going to want to explore a bit more of what beautiful New Zealand has to offer. Well then I’ve got the content for you! I’ve been saving it up for the end of my blog series, nicely timed for the summer vacation of course. Next week’s blog is all about the best places to go when exploring beautiful 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?

A Working Holiday in New Zealand: Best places to work, live and travel

New Zealand: a recap

Key centres for employment

Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau

Hamilton | Kirikiriroa

Tauranga

Wellington | Ponēke

Christchurch | Ōtautahi

Queenstown | Tāhuna

Dunedin | Ōtepoti

When it’s time to play

Gemma’s List of Best Places in NZ

North Island

South Island

Honourable mention!

Feedback and farewell

If you are looking for the other blogs in this series, here is the full list in the order they were published:

A Working Holiday in New Zealand: How to Meet People

Put in some effort

The proximity effect

My story

1. Your Workplace or Social Space

2. Social Media ‘Expat’ Groups

3. Meet Ups

4. Sports Groups

5. Travel Groups

6. Community & Backpacker Noticeboards

Friends ahoy