Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The rules vary for different nationalities, so make sure you read up on the specifics of your country's agreement with
Volunteering
NZ presents a swathe of active, outdoorsy volunteer opportunities for travellers to get some dirt under their fingernails
and participate in conservation programs. Programs can include anything from tree-planting and weed removal to track
construction, habitat conservation and fencing. Ask about local opportunities at any regional i-SITE visitor information
centre, or check out
www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz
and
www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved
,
both of which allow
you to browse for opportunities by region. Another resource is
www.helpx.net
, which lists volunteering opportunities on
farms where you can work in exchange for accommodation.
Women Travellers
NZ is generally a very safe place for women travellers, although the usual sensible precautions apply: avoid walking
alone late at night and never hitchhike alone. If you're out on the town, always keep enough money aside for a taxi back
to your accommodation. Lone women should also be wary of staying in basic pub accommodation unless it looks safe
and well managed. Sexual harassment is not a widely reported problem in NZ.
See
www.womentravel.co.nz
for more information.
Work
If you arrive in NZ on a visitor visa, you're not allowed to work for pay. If you're caught breaching this (or any other)
visa condition, you could be booted back to where you came from.
If you have been approved for a WHS visa, look into the possibilities for temporary employment. There's plenty of
casual work around, mainly in agriculture (fruit picking, farming, wineries), hospitality (bar work, waiting tables) or at
ski resorts. Office-based work can be found in IT, banking, finance and telemarketing. Register with a local office-work
agency to get started.
Seasonal fruit picking, pruning and harvesting is prime short-term work for visitors. More than 30,000 hectares of
apples, kiwifruit and other fruit and veg are harvested from December to May. Rates are around $12 to $17 an hour (not
much) for physically taxing toil, working in the dirt under the hot sun− turnover of workers is high. You're usually paid
by how much you pick (per bin, bucket or kilogram): if you stick with it for a while, you'll get faster and fitter and can
actually make some reasonable cash. Prime South Island picking locations include Nelson (Tapawera and Golden Bay),
Marlborough (around Blenheim) and Central Otago (Alexandra and Roxburgh).
Winter work at ski resorts and their service towns includes bartending, waiting, cleaning, ski-tow operation and, if
you're properly qualified, ski or snowboard instructing.
Resources
Backpacker publications, hostel managers and other travellers are the best sources of info on local work possibilities.
Base Backpackers
(
www.stayatbase.com/work
)
runs an employment service via its website, while the Notice Boards
