Work Opportunities in New Zealand
With a clean and safe environment, moderate climate, affordable housing, a low density population to land area, New Zealand consistently rates as one of the best places to live in the world.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to adopt an eight-hour working day, and is a sophisticated and modern, highly technical, advanced western nation. It also operates in a competitive time zone, as it is the first OECD country to wake up each day and there is a distinct time-driven advantage for businesses to locate or invest in New Zealand.
Because of the isolation of this small remote country and a diminutive enthusiastic population that emulates the demographics of larger markets, New Zealand is an excellent place for cost-efficient trials, and the scrutiny of new ideas and systems like Eftpos and Internet banking. Major companies testing the market with new products are Ericsson, Vodafone, BMW and IBM. New technologies such as various mobile phones, e-commerce purchasing and Internet use were all tested in New Zealand before being released onto the world market. Also clinical trials of new biomedical products are undertaken by global companies who are clustering in New Zealand to research, develop technology and collaborate on commercial ventures.
Major industries, especially tourism, are located throughout New Zealand, but some regions are better suited to industries like viticulture and agriculture.
- The mineral-rich soils, warm climate and sheltered waters of Northland have contributed to the forestry, dairy, fruit, mining, cement and boat-building industries.
- Auckland is the base for 40% of New Zealand 's manufacturing industries and 45% of New Zealand 's wholesaling infrastructure. There are also viticulture, education and service industries.
- Waikato, Bay of Plenty is a centre of dairy, forestry, pulp and paper processing, horse breeding, horticulture and floriculture, food processing, mining, and scientific and industrial research and development.
- Hawkes Bay, Gisborne is similar to the Waikato.
- Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki are similar to Waikato, plus oil, gas and petrochemical production.
- Wellington, the capital city, is a centre of government, finance, education, film and television, information technology and telecommunications, and secondary processing.
- Nelson, Marlborough, and the West Coast is known for viticulture, horticulture, fishing, seafood, food processing, forestry, wood processing and mining.
- Canterbury is renowned for the electronics, telecommunications and software development industries, farming, viticulture, horticulture, also research and development, education and manufacturing.
- Otago and Southland at the bottom of the South Island has healthy farming, fishing and seafood, forestry and wood processing, farming, education, engineering and manufacturing industries.
However, because New Zealand occupies only a miniscule part of the world and plays a tiny role in the world market, finding work can be very challenging in this competitive environment.
