Working in New Zealand

Skilled
The Skilled Migrant category is open to candidates who possess the requisite skills and/or training. In order to be eligible for this visa - which gives you permanent residency and perhaps one day citizenship – candidates must meet pre-requisite conditions, including fluency in the English language, as well as pass a points test. Please note, for those applicants who are in occupations which are on New Zealand’s ‘High Demand’ list will earn bonus points and therefore have a better chance of immigration under this category.

Temporary & Long Term Business Visas (LTBV)
For persons traveling to New Zealand on business, short-term work visas may be issued for a period of up to 12 months. If you intend to work for a longer period than this, you will have to apply for a Long Term Business Visas (LTBV), valid for up to 3 years. . In order to obtain one of these visas, the company or organization you are working for usually will have to demonstrate that the job is one that is in high demand in New Zealand, or that the job you are doing is a necessary one for the company etc.

Working Conditions
In New Zealand, as in many other Western countries, the worker is well-protected. There are many laws in relation to minimum wage levels and workers’ unions help enforce people’s rights. Many industries have their own tribunals to settle disputes between unions which represent the workers, the workers themselves and employers, and if this fails to resolve the issue, then persons can always seek settlement within the court system. Workers rights are strictly protected by the Employment Contracts Act 1991.

Minimum Wages
The Minimum Wage Act 1983 (NZ) sets the national minimum wages for adults and young people. The Minimum Wage Order 1997 came into force on 1 March 1997 and set the adult minimum wage, for those aged 20 and over, at $7 per hour, $56 for an 8-hour day, and $280.00 for a 40-hour week. The youth minimum wage, for young people aged 16 to 19, is set at $4.20 per hour, $33.60 for an 8-hour day, and $168.00 for a 40-hour week.

Unions
According to the Employment Contracts Act 1991, in New Zealand employers may not restrict the right of employees to join unions. Unions are collective groups to which employees belong and act as representative bodies to protect workers’ rights.

Equal Opportunity Policy
Racial and gender slurs and activities in the workplace are also wholly unacceptable: under New Zealand law, such constitutes a type of assault, and the person making the remark or doing the act may be charged under criminal law as well as prosecuted under civil law by the victim in order to receive damages to compensate for injuries (mental and physical) sustained.

Legislation relevant to equal employment opportunities in the labor market includes the Equal Pay Act 1972, the Human Rights Act 1993 and the Employment Contracts Act 1991.