2017-Aug 04: Pay Rates for Snow Sports Instructors

Visa Pak 321 - Advice for staff about the pay rates for Snow Sports Instructors.

Visa Paks

04 August 2017

Pay Rates for Snow Sports Instructors

We are aware of inconsistencies in recent work visa decisions for Snow Board and Ski Instructors.  One contributing reason for the inconsistences appears to be that the Careers New Zealand (CNZ) website has been used to source pay rates for Snow Sports Instructors.  Snow Sports Instructors are not listed in the CNZ website so instead the Snow Sports Instructors are often being treated as if they were Outdoor Recreation Guides/Instructors.   

Outdoor Recreation Guides/Instructors are however a completely different role and are paid on quite a different pay scale  which should be used as a basis for assessing pay rates for Snow Sports Instructors.

Furthermore, Immigration Officers should not be quoting the CNZ website, as previously advised in advice to staff (4 December 2015) on market rates.  Please revisit this item to ensure that you are complying with the requirements it details.

The New Zealand Snow Sports Instructor’s Alliance has stated that $16.25 per hour meets the market rate for Snow Sports Instructors for the 2017 season, based on a guaranteed eight hour work day.  Where instructors are only paid for the hours worked then they might expect a different pay rate.