BUG - Backpackers Guide to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

Citizens of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK, USA and Uruguay are allowed to work in New Zealand on a temporary basis through the Working Holiday Scheme.

The Working Holiday Scheme allows citizens of the above countries aged between 18 and 30 to undertake temporary work to help fund their travel in New Zealand. Working holiday visas are valid for 12 months, but you are not permitted to work for the same employer for longer than three months.

To be eligible for a working holiday permit under this scheme, applicants must be:

resident in the country of their passport;
aged between 18 and 30;
not be accompanied by any children on their visit to New Zealand;
able to provide sufficient funds to cover their visit to New Zealand, in most cases this means at least $4,200.

There is a quota limiting the number of working holiday permits issued each year. If the quota for your nationality is full you may have to wait a year. You can increase your chances by applying for your working holiday visa immediately when the next year's applications are opened.

Quotas for working holiday visas are shown in the table below:

Passport	Quota
Argentina	300
Belgium	100
Canada	2000
Chile	400
Denmark	200
Finland	200
France	1400
Germany	2700
Hong Kong	200
Ireland	2700
Italy	250
Malaysia	100
Malta	50
Netherlands	900
Singapore	200
South Korea	800
Sweden	700
Taiwan	400
United Kingdom	10000
United States	500
Uruguay	100

From 1 July 2005 the quota will be lifted for citizens of Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom and an additional 10,000 places will be available to split between citizens of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway and the USA. The changes to the Working Holiday Scheme in July 2005 will see other conditions lifted, which will include allowing British citizens working on the Working Holiday Scheme to stay in New Zealand for up to two years.

Tax

If you're working in New Zealand, you will have to pay tax to the New Zealand government. Income tax is charged at 19.5Tel for the first $38,000, 33Tel between $38,001 and $60,000 and 39Tel over $60,001. The tax year runs from April to March and you may need to file a tax return after 31 March and when you return home.

Before you start work you will need to apply for an IRD number from the Internal Revenue Department (tel 0800 227 774; website www.ird.govt.nz).

Finding Work

The easiest way to find work is to register at temporary employment agencies. Temporary assignments fit within the scope of your working holiday permit and employment agencies also line you up with reasonably well paying positions.

You could try one of the following agencies, which have a job search function on their website and offices throughout New Zealand:

Addeco

With over 6000 offices worldwide, Adecco has all sorts of office work available.

Level 9, Qantas House, 191 Queen Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 309 7572

Website www.adecco.co.nz

Advanced Personnel

This South Island-based agency has offices in Nelson, Christchurch and Invercargill.

829 Colombo Street, Christchurch

Tel (03) 365 4322

Website www.advancedpersonnel.co.nz

Clayton Ford

This specialist in accounting, banking and financial related jobs has branches in Auckland and Wellington.

Level 19, 120 Albert Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 379 9924

Website www.claytonford.co.nz

De Winter

This is an Auckland-based recruitment agency specialising in contract work in the IT field.

Level 4, Symphony House, 300 Queen Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 366 1944

Website www.dewinter.co.nz

Eden Brown

This recruitment agency specialises in jobs for health professionals and can help with work visas.

Shortland Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 368 1054

Website www.edenbrown.co.nz

Health Recruitment

Health Recruitment specialises in finding work in medical related professions.

Level 3, Sovereign Centre, Victoria Street, Wellington

Tel (09) 499 1885

Website www.healthrecruitment.com

HHES Hospitality Recruitment

HHES specialises in jobs in the hospitality industry.

Level 2, 139 Wellesley Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 379 7532

Website www.hhes.co.nz

Hudson Global Resources

This large company has work in a large range of industries including banking and financial services.

Level 6, 137-147 Quay Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 367 9000

Website www.hudsonresourcing.co.nz

Manpower

Manpower is one of the world's largest employment agencies with over 3000 offices worldwide.

Level 4, 63 Albert Street, Auckland

Tel (09) 379 2333

Website www.manpower.co.nz

There are a few good general-purpose employment websites that are a good starting point. These include NZ Jobs (website www.nzjobs.co.nz), Seasonal Work NZ (website www.seasonalwork.co.nz) and Seek (website www.seek.co.nz).

To get a good idea about the availability of work, long-term accommodation and costs of living, check the classified ads in the main New Zealand newspapers. The Dominion-Post (Wellington), the New Zealand Herald (Auckland), the Press (Christchurch) are particularly good places to look for work.

Fruit picking is a popular backpackers job in New Zealand. It is hard work, but it's a good way to keep fit and get a tan. Grape picking work is often available in the wine growing regions of Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, particularly in Hastings and Blenheim. Other fruit picking work is found around Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands and Motueka, near Nelson. Hostels in fruit-picking destinations will usually find work for you and a quick phone call before arriving can give you a quick rundown on the work situation.