Employment

To work in New Zealand you must either  
- be a permanent resident of NZ or Australia 
-or have a work visa  
For more information check the Immigration NZ website www.immigration.govt.nz 
You must also have an Inland Revenue Number (IRD Number) The IRD collecttax from people who are employed or run a business. To apply for an IRD number, visit www.ird.govt.nz or call 0800 227 774 

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Preparing for employment you will need

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV). This is a document that outlines your work experience, skills, qualifications and personal interests. The website Careers NZ provides good information on creating a CV in NZ. 
• a Cover Letter. When you send your CV to an employer you will want to make a strong first impression and your covering letter can do that for you. The letter should relate to the job description of the position you are applying for and tell them what you can contribute to the company and why you are interested in the job. ​

Qualifications

Your international qualifications may need to be confirmed by the NZ Qualifications Authority(NZQA). Visit www.nzqa.govt or call 0800 697 296 
 

Work Placement Information

The Careers NZ website has lots of information on preparing for work. It also has freephone advice, information on study and training,  guides for planning your career, writing CVs, preparing for interviews and general assistance with finding a job.

The Law- Know your rights

Under New Zealand employment law, you and your employer both have certain rights and obligations. For example, your employer is obliged to pay you an agreed wage, and to make sure wherever you work is safe. 
Your side of the bargain requires you to perform your job with care and competence, be reliable and productive. Your rights ore available here in 14 different languages. https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/ work--in-nz/employment--rights 
It is illegal in NZ to discriminate on the grounds of race, background, sex, age, disability, religion or family status, among other things. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you can contact the Human Rights Commission. It provides free, independent help. Visit www.hrc.co.nz or phone 0800 496 877. 
​If you have a disagreement with your employer and think you have been treated unfairly, you can find out where to get help here. www.newzeaIandnow. govt.nz/work-in-nz/support-in-the— workplace 
 

Finding an Employment

Job vacancies are advertised in a number of places 1.Local newspapers – Bay of Plenty Times The Weekend Sun 2. Services to assist you in finding employment 3. NZ Now is a website that explains the New Zealand work environment abd provides excellent information and tips on settling into employment 
​www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/ resources/finding-work https://www. newzealandnow. 
govt.nz/work—in—nz/nz—way—of— working 
www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/ resources/guide-to—kiwi—workplaces 
 

Join a workplace Union

Every employee has the right to join a workplace union. For the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, go to www. union.org.nz or call 04 385 1344. ​

Starting Your Own Business

These agencies can help Biz Information Zone www.business.govt.nz or phone 0800 424 946 
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise www.nzte.govt.nz 
Inland Revenue Department www.ird.govt.nz 
Bank, solicitors and accountants can also provide information on setting up a business. Once you have set up a business you can get assistance from the Chamber of Commerce. 

English

New Zealand Employers value spoken English and local work experience. They like their employees to understand the way we work in New Zealand and to fit into their work culture. If you don't have these skills, then try some of the suggestions below