New Zealand's economy is growing but the job market remains very competitive.
Getting a job in New Zealand may be a challenge if you have not arranged work before arriving. The more experience and qualifications you have to offer, the better your chances will be in securing a position. However, even well qualified migrants may take six or more months to find suitable employment and will often need to move out of their specialist field.
It is also common for highly qualified migrants to accept more junior positions than they held at home. Disappointing as this may be, it does provide new migrants with the New Zealand work experience most employers demand. These difficulties tend to diminish with time, but it is important to be prepared for a period of adjustment during at least the first year of residence.
Major New Zealand industries by region
Northland
- Dairy farming
- Fruit growing
- Tourism
- Forestry
- Fishing
- Boat-building
- Ceramic clay and cement mining
Auckland
- Education
- Manufacturing
(40% of New Zealand's manufacturing)
- Distribution
(around 45% of New Zealand's wholesalers are based in Auckland)
- Service industries
Waikato, Bay of Plenty
- Dairy farming industries
- Forestry and timber processing
- Pulp and paper production
- Tourism
- Fishing
- Horse breeding
- Horticulture and floriculture
- Food processing
- Mining
- Scientific and industrial research and development
Hawkes Bay, Gisborne
- Pastoral farming
- Horticulture and viticulture
- Fishing
- Food processing
- Tourism
- Forestry and wood processing
- Light industrial manufacturing
Manawatu, Wanganui, Taranaki
- Pastoral and dairy farming
- Education
- Scientific and industrial research
- Vocational development and training
- Oil, gas and petrochemical production
- Processing and engineering
- Forestry
Wellington
- Finance
- Government
- Education
- Scientific and industrial research
- Tourism
- Film and television
- Information technology and telecommunications
- Secondary processing
- Manufacturing
Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast
- Tourism
- Viticulture
- Horticulture
- Pastoral farming
- Food processing
- Fishing and seafood processing
- Forestry and wood processing
- Mining
Canterbury
- Pastoral and dairy farming
- Horticulture
- Viticulture
- Tourism
- Education
- Research and development
- Manufacturing
- Electronics, telecommunications, software development
- Biotechnology
- Food processing
Otago, Southland
- Pastoral and dairy farming
- Fishing and seafood processing
- Forestry and wood processing
- Tourism
- Education
- Engineering and manufacturing
