Working holiday in New Zealand: visa, jobs and seasons
A working holiday is the classic way to spend a year in New Zealand: work for a few weeks, travel for a few weeks, repeat. This guide covers who can apply, the jobs travellers do, and when the seasons run, so you can plan your year around the work.
Quick facts
- Working holiday visas are for young people from countries that have a Working Holiday Scheme with New Zealand: more than 40 countries.
- The usual age range is 18 to 30. For some countries (including Canada and the UK) it is 18 to 35.
- Most schemes give up to 12 months. Some give longer (UK citizens can stay up to 3 years).
- You apply online, show money to support yourself, and hold a ticket out (or the money for one).
- Some countries' schemes have a yearly cap and open on a set date. Popular ones fill fast.
- You get the same minimum employment rights as any other worker in New Zealand.
Details differ by country. Find yours on immigration.govt.nz (search "working holiday").
Before you arrive
- Insurance: you must have travel and medical insurance for your whole stay.
- Money: you'll need to show funds when you apply, and you'll want a cushion for the first job hunt.
- A CV in New Zealand style: short, with your work history, skills and a local phone number once you have one.
Your first week
- Get a New Zealand SIM.
- Apply for an IRD number (tax number) at ird.govt.nz. Without one you are taxed at a higher rate.
- Open a bank account.
- Choose your tax code when you start a job (most working holiday makers with one job use "M").
The jobs travellers do
Fruit picking and packing (horticulture)
The biggest employer of working holiday makers. Work is outdoors, physical and seasonal, and often paid by the hour or by the bin. Many orchards offer accommodation, or there are hostels nearby that specialise in seasonal workers.
| Crop | Main regions | Roughly when |
|---|---|---|
| Kiwifruit | Bay of Plenty (Te Puke, Katikati) | March to June (picking and packing) |
| Apples and pears | Hawke's Bay, Nelson/Tasman, Central Otago | February to May |
| Grapes (vintage) | Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Central Otago | March to April; vineyard work in winter |
| Cherries and summer fruit | Central Otago, Hawke's Bay | December to February |
Seasons move with the weather each year, so check with growers or regional seasonal-work sites before you travel.
Hospitality
Cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels hire all year in the cities and in summer in tourist towns. Experience as a barista is especially useful: coffee is taken seriously in New Zealand.
Ski fields (winter)
From about June to October, the ski areas around Queenstown, Wānaka, Mount Hutt and Mount Ruapehu hire lift operators, instructors, rental staff and hospitality workers. Recruitment starts months earlier, often in March and April.
Tourism, farms and more
Hostels, tour companies, campervan companies and holiday parks often hire travellers. On farms, dairy work and lambing (in spring) can come with accommodation. Some hostels and farms offer a bed and meals for a few hours' work a day.
Pay and rights
- You must be paid at least the minimum wage. It goes up most years on 1 April; check the current rate at employment.govt.nz.
- You must have a written employment agreement.
- On short jobs, you are usually paid 8% holiday pay on top of your wages instead of taking paid leave.
- If an employer asks you to work for free, pays below the minimum wage or keeps your passport, that is illegal. Report it to Employment New Zealand.
Make the most of the travel part
Plan your year around the seasons: summer fruit in the south, autumn harvest in the Bay of Plenty or Hawke's Bay, a winter on the ski fields, and spring for travelling. Start with our guides to the best places to visit, New Zealand on a budget and the backpacking gear list.
Living on a budget? The Tappl card collects stamps, vouchers and deals at local shops that use it, all on one card in your phone's wallet.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Checked in October 2026. Schemes, caps and dates change; confirm on immigration.govt.nz.
