With its spectacular landscapes, lively cities, and peaceful countryside, New Zealand is a vibrant place to work and travel!
Working abroad in New Zealand will give you the opportunity to embark on a cultural adventure with everything this country has to offer. From bustling cities to stunning mountains and landscapes, and all the ziplining, bungee-ing, and adventure sports in between – read more about why working in New Zealand is the program for you!
Greenheart Travel’s program is ideal if you:
Program at a Glance:
You must meet the following requirements to apply
**Due to visa regulations for a Working Holiday Visa we cannot make exceptions to these requirements. These are put in place by the New Zealand government
The following dates refer to the day you would actually land in Auckland. If you’re arriving earlier than these dates, you’ll have to arrange separate accommodation until the start date.
Start Date | Availability | |
25 – July 2024 | OPEN | |
8- August 2024 | OPEN | |
22- August 2024 | OPEN | |
5- Sept 2024 | OPEN | |
12- Sept 2024 | OPEN | |
19- Sept 2024 | OPEN | |
26- Sept 2024 | OPEN | |
3- Oct 2024 | OPEN | |
10- Oct 2024 | OPEN | |
17- Oct 2024 | OPEN | |
24- Oct 2024 | OPEN | |
31- Oct 2024 | OPEN | |
7- Nov 2024 | OPEN | |
14- Nov 2024 | OPEN | |
21- Nov 2024 | OPEN | |
28- Nov 2024 | OPEN | |
9- Jan 2025 | OPEN | |
16- Jan 2025 | OPEN | |
23- Jan 2025 | OPEN | |
6- Feb 2025 | OPEN | |
13- Feb 2025 | OPEN | |
20- Feb 2025 | OPEN | |
27- Feb 2025 | OPEN |
*Prices subject to change year to year.
Packaged into Program Cost:
Our Support and Services:
Additional Expenses to Consider:
Work Abroad New Zealand is a spectacular gap year option! Our program is designed to have a structural component that assists our travelers with pre-departure and arrival logistics such as bank account setup, obtaining the equivalent of their Social Security number, finding accommodation, securing a job, and making friends! This work abroad program also allows for enough flexibility for travelers to experience self-discovery by choosing where they live, what jobs they secure, and when and where they would like to travel.
This is a great gap year program for you if you:
Skills and personal growth that our Greenheart Travelers have gained while on program:
The cost of living in New Zealand, especially in big cities like Auckland, is likely more than what you’re used to in your home country. So, it is important to budget accordingly to make sure you are financially prepared upon arrival and until you begin to make a regular paycheck.
Here is a rough estimate of your initial start up costs (in USD). Please note that the only amount you’ll have to pay Greenheart Travel is the program fee.
Flight: $1,200
Program Fee: $1,830
Visa: $280
Savings: $2,590*
Total: $5,900
*this amount is a requirement of the Working Holiday Visa, however, it is a good amount to have to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably until you start working
Average Weekly Budget:
Your salary will depend on how often you decide to work and what work you end up getting into. However, you are guaranteed to make the minimum wage for the type of work you’re doing ($15 – $25 NZD/hour), and as long as you’re working 25-35 hours per week, you’ll be making enough to live and travel on. Participants working in professional fields can generally expect to make more than this.
Wages and rent are paid weekly which makes budgeting your paychecks much easier:
These weekly costs will, of course, depend on your personal spending habits, where you live, how many hours you work, and if your job provides a higher pay/accommodation but you should expect to be able to save some of your paycheck every week.
Although you will most likely spend any extra cash on travel opportunities, you have the potential to make back your start up costs:
Monthly Savings = $508 NZD
Yearly Savings = $6096 NZD
During your first week in New Zealand, you’ll have 7 days of activities and excursions where you’ll get to know fellow travelers and enjoy your introduction to this gorgeous country!
Welcome Week Itinerary:
*Welcome week activities are subject to change based on seasonality.
Before you arrive, your bank account will already be opened – you won’t have to research New Zealand banks or finalize your account. Instead, the team will have prepared all of your paperwork in advance. They will also set you up for the New Zealand tax system and give you your IRD (New Zealand tax ID) so you can file taxes before you arrive.
During the welcome week and orientation, you will meet the team and get all of the information necessary to start planning your time in New Zealand whether you want to start traveling or working right away. You will learn about life in New Zealand, when to work, where to work, where to travel and when to travel.
During your welcome week, you will learn valuable skills essential to your stay in New Zealand:
The most common jobs are low-skilled, entry-level jobs. These give you the freedom and flexibility to work part-time and for short periods of time, which will allow you to travel as much as you like! If you have little job experience or are just looking for work as a way to fund your travels, this is the best option.
Hospitality, customer service, and office work are the most common of these jobs, as New Zealand companies report that the high level of service in the US and Canada tends to produce workers who are well-suited for these types of positions.
Jobs in restaurants, bars, hostels, and hotels are widely available for shorter contracts in cities and jobs on farms and WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) are also popular among Working Holiday travelers who want to experience a different type of work outside of a city.
While participants can work year-round in New Zealand, it is good to note peak hiring seasons for specific industries to help plan your start date.
Skilled laborers are in high demand in New Zealand, especially in these fields:
Please note that professional work tends to be concentrated in urban areas.
There are advantages of applying for this program through us:
We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel participants and alumni!
Read more about why people are choosing Greenheart Travel: Why Choose Greenheart Travel?
With the support of our in-country partner, work in New Zealand participants will have a variety of ways to search and secure a position during their programs. Services include:
This varies. During the busy season when lots of jobs are available, sometimes several job prospects are already awaiting you when you arrive and you can start work right away. Other times it can take up to six weeks. Usually, if there is a delay it is because you have rejected initial job prospects because they did not meet your expectations for some reason.
Yes. You can choose to work in the same place for the full year, or to switch jobs.
See the Budget page.
Some jobs, especially those on resorts and farms, include housing or subsidized housing. Our in-country partner can provide guidance and resources to travelers to help them find other types of housing depending on where they are working. Sometimes the employer can provide assistance as well.
In Auckland, you will probably pay $160-$200 NZD for a shared room (per week) if you are in short-term accommodation. If you want your own room, it is more expensive. If you are staying a while, think about renting an apartment with some friends or moving in with some Kiwis, as it is generally the cheapest option. However, some jobs will only be short term (1-2 months) and it can be difficult to find a short or open lease, so you may need to spend more towards $200 NZD/week to stay at a hostel.
1. Start Your Application Here. You will be sent more information as well as the link to our application portal to begin your formal application.
2. Submit Basic Program Information: The first step in our application portal will be basic things like your chosen start date, etc.
3. Submit your deposit: A $300 deposit is required in order to apply for the program. This is subtracted from your total program fee. If we are unable to accept you following your interview (very unlikely!) we will refund your deposit in full.
4. Complete Application & Documents: Provide more detailed information about yourself in Part 2 of the application. In this section, you’ll tell us more information like your work history, motivations for joining the program, travel history, and emergency contacts. You will also submit your documents (below) within your portal account.
5. Skype Interview: Once you have submitted your online application and paid your application deposit, you will be asked to schedule a video interview with a Greenheart Travel representative.
6. You’re Accepted! Woohoo! We are usually able to accept people within 1-2 weeks of their interviews.
7. Commitment Deposit: Once you are accepted to the program, you will need to submit a $300 commitment deposit within 14 days to confirm your spot on the program. Once you submit your commitment deposit you will unlock the acceptance portion of your portal, which includes things like pre-departure videos, travel and arrival information, the Greenheart Travel Atlas, and more.
9. Book your flights, and get ready for your adventure to New Zealand!
The above process can take as little as 1 week to complete, so it’s up to you how quickly you’re able to complete each step.