To work in New Zealand you must have either:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/
Our labour laws are different to other countries. This website http://www.ers.dol.govt.nz/pay is very informative and explains labour law in New Zealand in a very simple way. It is designed to be used by employees and employers. It includes information about minimum wages, holidays, rights at work, unions, paid parental leave. It also explains what to do if you have problems at work. This website http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/settlementpack/work/ also has lots of information about things you might need to know about working in New Zealand.
There are several ways of finding work in New Zealand – through newspapers, websites, personal approaches to employers, and agencies. You can try any or all of these methods to help you find work. All the daily papers carry a Situations Vacant section advertising job vacancies. The main daily paper in the Hutt Valley region is the Dominion Post. See below for links to a number of websites that have job opportunities:
www.seek.co.nz
www.careers.govt.nz
www.newkiwis.co.nz
www.jobcafe.co.nz
www.jobstuff.co.nz
It is illegal in NZ to discriminate on the grounds of race, ethnicity, background, sex, age, disability, religion or family status, among other things. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you can contact the Human Rights Commission. The Commission provides free and independent help. http://www.hrc.co.nz or Free Phone: 0800 496 877.
Grow Wellington http:/www.growwellington.co.nz helps new businesses in the Wellington region. Their website has lots of information about how to set up and run a business, and they offer mentoring and support.
MClass http://www.mclass.wellington.net.nz provides free adult education and support for refugees and migrants in the Wellington region. They focus on helping new New Zealanders whose first language is not English with Adult ESOL Literacy Courses, Job Brokering, Career Coaching and Mother Tongue Maintenance.
MClass job brokers are available every Tuesday morning upstairs at the Te Awa Kairangi Building at 47 Laings Rd, Lower Hutt and every Wednesday afternoon at Naenae Community Link, next to Naenae Work and Income. To make an appointment call for a session at Naenae (04)3843694, or for a session in Lower Hutt (04) 5893700.
If you are studying at a polytechnic or university, you can use Student Job Search http://www.sjs.co.nz/ to help you find casual work. They have lots of short term and long term jobs and also offer a course-matching job service which can help place you in work relevant to your study.
Website: www.careers.govt.nz
Career Services is a government organisation and it offers a free service to migrants and refugees. Services include:
Hutt Valley residents can also receive personalised one-to-one careers counselling and guidance at the Naenae Community Link Centre (currently on a Wednesday), which is located at 2a Vogel Street Naenae. This can be arranged by making an appointment via the 0800 222 733 number or by visiting the Naenae Community Link Centre to make an appointment.
Wellington Chamber of Commerce run skilled newcomers courses. They are designed to help skilled migrants access employment opportunities appropriate to their skills and experience. It is aimed at people who have been living in NZ for up to five years and are: skilled migrants or refugee, partners of skilled migrant, have a work to residence visa or are students transitioning from student to work visa.
For course details contact Daphne Karati on 494 6642 or daphnek@wellingtonchamber.co.nz
Work and Income NZ http://www.workandincome.govt.nz can organise for you to receive the unemployment benefit if you are eligible. You may also be entitled to other kinds of assistance, such as an accommodation supplement. They also have a Job Bank - http://job-bank.workandincome.govt.nz online, which helps you to search all the job listings WINZ has. You need to ring the Call Centre (0800 559 009) to make an appointment.
WINZ offices in the Hutt Valley are:
| Service Centre | Street address | Postal address | Fax number |
| Lower Hutt | 317-327 High Street Lower Hutt |
Private Bag 30-480, Lower Hutt | 04 918 0116 |
| Naenae | 2 Vogel Street, Naenae | PO Box 35-148, Naenae | 04 567 0524 |
| Upper Hutt | 162-164 Main Street, Upper Hutt | PO Box 40 267, Upper Hutt | 04 529 8169 |
| Wainuiomata | Shop 37, The Mall, Wainuiomata | PO Box 43-004, Wainuiomata | 04 564 3259 |
| Wainuiomata Marae | Parkway Extension, Wainuiomata | PO Box 43-004, Wainuiomata | 04 564 3259 |