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Country guide · New Zealand
Living and working in New Zealand
A guide for international candidates
Unless you're a New Zealand or Australian citizen or already have residence, you'll need a visa that lets you work. The main employer route is the Accredited Employer Work Visa: a job of at least 30 hours a week with an accredited employer, for up to 5 years for most jobs. Employers must pay at least the market rate.
Free for candidates. Join nearly 3,000 candidates and growing daily.
New Zealand dollar
Currency
NZ$, NZD
Wellington
Capital
NZST UTC+12
Time zone
NZDT UTC+13 from the last Sunday in September to the first…
111
Emergency number
Type I
Plug
230 V
Last checked 12 October 2026. Estimates are labelled.
Where the jobs are
All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide. Choose a sector to see that industry in every place.
Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.
Region
Northland
NZ$560
- Rent a month
- $560
- Vs regions in this guide
- -1%
- Employees
- 67k
- Strongest sector
- Healthcare
Sector strength vs average for New Zealand
- Techn/a
- Healthcare1.45×
- Engineeringn/a
- Financen/a
- Hospitalityn/a
Main places
- Whangārei (100
- 600)
- Far North (73
- 700)
Job links open all New Zealand roles for now. Rent compared with the other regions in this guide.
View the map as a table
| Region | Employees, Feb 2025 | Sectors above average (LQ 1.05 or more) | Median weekly rent, July 2026 | Largest council areas (population) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | 66,850 | Healthcare 1.45 | NZ$560 | Whangārei (100,600), Far North (73,700) |
| Auckland | 863,180 | Finance 1.52, Tech 1.48 | NZ$640 | Auckland (1,816,000) |
| Waikato | 218,700 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.22, Healthcare 1.06 | NZ$570 | Hamilton (192,100), Taupō (42,700) |
| Bay of Plenty | 144,680 | Healthcare 1.09 | NZ$650 | Tauranga (161,000), Rotorua (78,000) |
| Gisborne | 22,530 | Healthcare 1.17 | NZ$618 | Gisborne (52,700) |
| Hawke's Bay | 87,290 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.35 | NZ$600 | Hastings (88,300), Napier (66,400) |
| Taranaki | 53,510 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.70, Healthcare 1.06 | NZ$550 | New Plymouth (90,100) |
| Manawatū-Whanganui | 108,835 | Healthcare 1.17, Engineering and manufacturing 1.13 | NZ$520 | Palmerston North (90,500), Whanganui (49,200) |
| Wellington | 281,540 | Tech 1.80, Finance 1.47 | NZ$575 | Wellington (210,800), Lower Hutt (114,200), Porirua (61,500) |
| Tasman | 23,705 | Hospitality 1.14, Engineering and manufacturing 1.14 | NZ$600 | Tasman district (59,900) |
| Nelson | 28,201 | Hospitality 1.37, Healthcare 1.27 | NZ$550 | Nelson (54,300) |
| Marlborough | 23,955 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.66 | NZ$585 | Marlborough district (50,800) |
| West Coast | 15,070 | Hospitality 1.74, Engineering and manufacturing 1.30 | NZ$435 | Grey district (14,600), Buller district (10,650) |
| Canterbury | 333,460 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.14 | NZ$550 | Christchurch (419,200), Selwyn district (87,600), Timaru district (49,500) |
| Otago | 126,380 | Hospitality 1.59 | NZ$580 | Dunedin (132,800), Queenstown-Lakes district (53,800) |
| Southland | 51,780 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.70 | NZ$500 | Invercargill (58,000), Southland district (33,900) |
Cities
Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes. Estimates stay labelled.
New Zealand
Auckland
- Rent
- NZ$640
- Pay
- NZ$1
- Rent share
- 43.2%
- Finance 1.52
- Tech 1.48
New Zealand
Wellington
- Rent
- NZ$560
- Pay
- NZ$1
- Rent share
- 34.7%
- Tech 1.80
- Finance 1.47
New Zealand
Christchurch
- Rent
- NZ$550
Tools
Step 1 of 2
Visa route finder
A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.
Rent and pay
The pay and rent figures already in this guide. This is not a tax calculation.
Rent a month in Auckland
NZ$640
- Pay
- NZ$1
- Rent share of pay
- 43.2%
Take-home pay
Inland Revenue works out PAYE from the pay period and tax code. It does not cover student loans, child support or extra pays.
Open the PAYE calculatorVisa routes to read about
These describe the route. They do not say whether you qualify.
- Source
Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)
People with a full-time job offer from an accredited employer. At least 30 hours a week; up to 5 years (3 years for ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5); fee from NZ$1,540.
- Source
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
Skilled workers, often already in New Zealand. Points; Trades and Technician and Skilled Work Experience pathways since 24 August 2026.
- Source
Green List (Straight to Residence and Work to Residence)
Listed occupations. Tier 1: Straight to Residence; Tier 2: Work to Residence after 24 months in the role.
Working holiday visas
Little-known facts
Daily life
- Good to knowGetting an IRD number, a bank account and a tenancy bond lodged with Tenancy Services (the landlord must lodge the bond with Tenancy Services within 23 working days).
- Good to knowDriving on the left; you can drive on a valid overseas licence for 18 months from your last arrival until 1 November 2026, then 12 months, after which you need a New Zealand licence (NZTA).
- HealthcareWork visa holders whose visa lets them work in New Zealand for 2 years or more can use publicly funded health services; shorter visas usually mean paying or holding insurance (Health NZ).
Family, school and pets
- FamilyPartners: Partner of a Worker Work Visa if the AEWV holder meets the wage threshold.
- SchoolChildren of eligible work visa holders study as domestic students, so state school is free.
- SchoolSchool is compulsory from 6 to 16 (Ministry of Education).
From job offer to settled in
1
Visa approval → travel → IRD number → bank account → find a rental (bond lodged with Tenancy Services) → enrol with a GP (publicly funded care if your visa lets you work for 2 years or more) → schools → driver licence
Questions
What is the main work visa for New Zealand?
The Accredited Employer Work Visa. You need an offer of at least 30 hours a week from an accredited employer with an approved job check.
How long can I stay on an AEWV?
Up to 5 years for most jobs, or 3 years if the job is ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5.
Does the median wage still apply?
For most AEWV roles the test is now the market rate. The immigration median wage, NZ$35.00 an hour from 9 March 2026, is still used for residence and some other settings.
Can my employer charge me for recruitment?
No. Employers can't pass accreditation or recruitment costs on to AEWV workers.
Is there a route to residence?
Several. The Skilled Migrant Category added Trades and Technician and Skilled Work Experience pathways on 24 August 2026.
Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?
No. Each listing shows the support the employer or agency has stated, such as visa sponsorship or relocation support. Confirm it with the employer before you apply.
Ready to look at New Zealand roles?
Create your free profile and choose whether employers and agencies can find you.