About New Zealand
Capital: Wellington Population: 4,925,160 Languages: Irish/English Currency: New Zealand Dollar Area: 268,021 square kilometers Form of Government: Unitary Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchy
Geography New Zealand is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, just south of Australia. Contrary to common misconceptions, New Zealand is not part of Australia and has been its own country since the late 19th century. Before that, it was considered part of the United Kingdom and operated under its laws and jurisdiction. New Zealand consists of numerous smaller islands, with two main islands (the North Island, known as Te Ika-a-Māui by the natives, and the South Island, known as Te Waipounamu) making up the majority of its land area.
Why New Zealand? Why should you work while studying in New Zealand? Here are some popular reasons people consider when deciding whether to work while studying abroad. Instead of solely relying on loans and other financial aid, a job can offer the following benefits:
Ensuring you have the funds to prove your eligibility for a student visa. Having a job lined up can simplify the process of securing funding when applying for a student visa.
Using the money to support and enjoy yourself while living in the country, which can alleviate monetary stress and allow you to focus better on your studies.
Studies suggest that working while in school can lead to better grades, as long as you maintain a reasonable number of work hours. This is why New Zealand restricts students to working 20 hours per week during the semester.
Gaining valuable work experience, which can be beneficial when you graduate. In some cases, your job may even complement your studies. If your job provides educational experience, you might be able to earn academic credit for it, allowing you to work more than 20 hours per week.
Depending on the job, you might get to travel around the country, earning money while exploring new places.
However, there are specific regulations you must follow if you want to work while studying in New Zealand. Previously, students had to apply for a “variation of condition” to work 20 hours per week during the semester and 40 hours per week during the Christmas and New Year break (equivalent to the summer break in northern countries). Working during the break between semesters (June and July) was not allowed unless it was part of an internship or apprenticeship as part of your educational program. Violating these rules or working without permission from Immigration New Zealand could result in losing your visa and being deported.