For most PRC passport holders, working in New Zealand follows one route: get a full-time job offer from an accredited employer, apply for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), then see whether the Skilled Migrant Category or the Green List can lead to residence. New Zealand has no general work visa that lets you arrive first and look for a job later. Young people can try for a place in the China Working Holiday scheme, and a few occupations, such as Chinese chefs and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, have their own China-specific work visa.
New Zealand’s unemployment rate was 5.6% in the June 2026 quarter. The job market is cooler than it was two years ago, and competition is fiercest in Auckland. On the plus side, employment law gives workers strong protection: an adult minimum wage of NZ$23.95 an hour, four weeks of paid annual holidays, 10 days of sick leave, and a ban on employers holding your passport. This guide follows the order of a move from China: the job market, pay, visa options, contracts and rights, and the paperwork to prepare before you leave. All figures and rules are as of October 2026.
The job market: latest 2026 figures
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) publishes a labour market snapshot based on Stats NZ data. The June 2026 edition puts total employment at about 2,905,000, with an employment rate of 66.7% and a labour force participation rate of 70.7%. Underutilisation, which counts unemployed people plus those who want more work than they can get, is 13.8%. That is 0.9 percentage points higher than the previous quarter, so competition for jobs is getting tougher.
The regions differ a lot. In the same quarter, unemployment was 6.5% in Auckland, 4.9% in Wellington, and 3.6% in both Canterbury (the region around Christchurch) and Otago. Auckland, where most Chinese New Zealanders live, has the most openings but also the most applicants, while South Island cities tend to be less crowded. New Zealand is a small market with close-knit industries, so reputation and references matter a great deal.
Pay by industry
RMB figures make these easier to compare. Using a cross rate from the European Central Bank’s reference rates of 23 October 2026, NZ$1 is about RMB 3.79. The adult minimum wage of NZ$23.95 an hour comes to about RMB 90.8. At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, a full-time minimum-wage job pays about NZ$49,800 a year, or roughly RMB 189,000. Since 9 March 2026, the “median wage” that Immigration New Zealand uses for its thresholds has been NZ$35 an hour (about RMB 133).
Keep in mind that income is taxed at progressive rates, and rent and day-to-day costs are clearly higher than in China’s second-tier cities. Our New Zealand tax guide covers the details. These income tax rates have applied since 1 April 2025 (ACC earners’ levy not included):
| Annual income (NZ$) | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| 0–15,600 | 10.5% |
| 15,601–53,500 | 17.5% |
| 53,501–78,100 | 30% |
| 78,101–180,000 | 33% |
| 180,001 and over | 39% |
Jobs where Chinese helps
Speaking Chinese rarely decides whether you get hired; English communication and local experience usually count for more. In the areas below, though, a Chinese background is a real asset:
- China-specific visa occupations: the China Special Work Category Visa is open only to Chinese chefs, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Mandarin teacher’s aides, Wushu martial arts coaches and Chinese tour guides, with up to 800 places.
- Chinese financial institutions: the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) register of banks lists Bank of China, China Construction Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, each with a locally incorporated subsidiary and a branch.
- Services for the Chinese community: in the 2023 Census, about 259,800 people were recorded under the “Chinese (not further defined)” ethnicity and about 104,400 spoke Northern Chinese, including Mandarin. In Auckland, restaurants, shops, real estate agencies, accounting firms and education providers often need bilingual staff.
Immigration New Zealand makes it clear that you do not pay a recruitment company or agency to find you a job; the employer pays them. Be very wary of anyone who offers a “guaranteed job and visa” for a fee.
Choosing a work visa
For a full comparison of visa types, start with our New Zealand visa overview. The options most closely tied to work are:
| Visa | Who it suits | Key conditions | Length / fee (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) | People with a full-time offer from an accredited employer | At least 30 hours a week; 2 years’ relevant experience or a qualification at NZQCF level 4 or above | Up to 5 years; from NZ$1,540 (about RMB 5,840) |
| China Special Work Category Visa | Chinese chefs, TCM practitioners, Mandarin teacher’s aides, Wushu coaches, Chinese tour guides | Written employment agreement for at least 30 hours a week and at least 12 months | Up to 3 years; up to 800 places |
| China Working Holiday Visa | PRC citizens aged 18–30 | Senior high school qualification verified by CSSD; English ability; at least NZ$4,200 (about RMB 15,900) for living costs | Up to 12 months; from NZ$770 (about RMB 2,920); 1,000 places a year |
| Work to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 2) | People who have worked 24 months in a Green List Tier 2 job | Aged 55 or younger; accredited employer; wage and English requirements | Stay indefinitely; from NZ$6,450 (about RMB 24,500) |
The working holiday visa comes with tight limits: you can work for any one employer for no more than six months, and you cannot take a permanent job. When we checked, Immigration New Zealand’s page showed the China Working Holiday Visa as closed, so watch for the official announcement of the next opening.
How the AEWV works
- Employer accreditationThe employer must first be accredited by Immigration New Zealand
- Job CheckThe employer submits a Job Check for the role and gets it approved
- Job offerYou receive a full-time offer and the employer sends you a link to the online application
- DocumentsEmployment agreement, job description, proof of experience or qualifications, English evidence, medical and police certificates
- Apply and waitAbout 80% of applications are decided within 5 weeks; successful applicants receive an eVisa
Some details people often miss. Jobs at skill levels 3 to 5 require proof of English. Evidence of work experience must come from someone other than you, such as employment certificates, payslips or tax certificates; a CV on its own is not enough. The maximum continuous stay is 5 years for jobs at skill levels 1 to 3 and 3 years for levels 4 to 5. After reaching it, you normally have to spend 12 months in a row outside New Zealand before applying for another AEWV.
Partners and children cannot be included in an AEWV application, but the visa holder may be able to support a visitor or work visa for a partner. From 9 March 2026, the income thresholds for supporting a partner are NZ$28 an hour for skill levels 1 to 3, NZ$52.50 an hour for levels 4 to 5, and NZ$35 an hour for Green List roles.
From work visa to residence: the 2026 rules
Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) took effect on 24 August 2026 and added two new pathways:
- Skilled Work Experience pathway: jobs at skill levels 1 to 3, with 5 years of experience in total: at least 3 years of directly relevant work (which can be overseas) plus at least 2 more years of skilled work in New Zealand paid at least 1.1 times the median wage.
- Trades and Technician pathway: listed trades occupations, with a relevant qualification at level 4 or above and at least 4 years of post-qualification experience, including 1.5 years in New Zealand.
The new red and amber lists matter most for many Chinese job seekers. Chefs, bakers, café and restaurant managers and office managers are on the amber list, so on the Skilled Work Experience pathway all 5 years must be gained in New Zealand, at a wage of at least 1.2 times the median. Retail managers, beauty therapists, massage therapists and hairdressers are on the red list and can only use the existing 6-point pathway, for example by earning at least 1.5 times the median wage or holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
If you earned your qualification overseas and it is not on the exemption list, you will need an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to claim points for it. Get your Chinese degree authenticated well ahead of time; our degree authentication guide walks through the process.
Employment agreements and your rights
New Zealand employment law covers every employee, including foreigners on work visas. The table below sets out the core rights next to the situation in China:
| Item | New Zealand (as of October 2026) | China (for reference) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual holidays | 4 weeks paid after 12 months of continuous employment | 5 days after 1 to 10 years of cumulative work |
| Sick leave | 10 paid days a year after 6 months of employment | Depends on local rules and company policy |
| Public holidays | 12 a year; working on one pays time and a half plus an alternative day off | Set separately by national holiday rules |
| Breaks | Two paid 10-minute rest breaks and one unpaid 30-minute meal break in an 8-hour day | Company policy |
You have the right to a written employment agreement, and you can get advice from someone you trust before signing it. Apart from deductions required by law, such as income tax, your employer cannot take money from your pay without your agreement, and cannot demand to keep your passport.
On trial periods: since 23 December 2023, employers of any size can include a trial period of up to 90 days in a written employment agreement. An employee dismissed during the trial period generally cannot bring a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal. If you are on a work visa, check the immigration requirements before you sign. If you are underpaid or treated unlawfully, the Employment New Zealand website explains what to do.
Finding jobs and preparing to leave
Immigration New Zealand points to the Tahatū Career Navigator, Kiwi Health Jobs for health care, the Education Gazette for teaching, the Science New Zealand careers page for science jobs, and Engineering New Zealand. Professional roles are often filled through recruitment agencies, and you can register with more than one.
Before you leave, prepare an English CV and referees; employment certificates, salary bank statements and individual income tax records (as proof of experience); degree authentication; a police certificate; and a medical check. Once you arrive, you will need a bank account and a tax number; see our guide to banking in New Zealand. If you are also considering Australia, compare our guide to working in Australia. For more on life in New Zealand, visit our New Zealand overview.
FAQ
Can I go to New Zealand first and look for work there without a job offer?
Usually not. Visitors are not allowed to work, and the AEWV requires an offer from an accredited employer first. If you are 18 to 30, keep an eye out for China Working Holiday places.
How much does an AEWV job have to pay?
The pay must meet Immigration New Zealand’s requirement for that job and cannot be below the adult minimum wage of NZ$23.95 an hour. Supporting a partner, staying longer or applying for residence later involves higher thresholds, most of them tied to the NZ$35 median wage.
Can working in New Zealand lead to permanent residence?
Yes, if you meet the conditions. Green List Tier 1 jobs let you apply for residence straight away, while Tier 2 jobs require 24 months of work first. Other jobs go through the Skilled Migrant Category, which depends on points or New Zealand work experience.
Do my annual leave and social insurance from China count in New Zealand?
No. Annual holidays in New Zealand build up again from your start date. For what to do about Chinese social insurance, see the hukou and social insurance arrangements to make before you leave.
Sources
- MBIE – Labour Market Statistics Snapshot, June 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Stats NZ – Unemployment rate at 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – Accredited Employer Work Visa (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – New occupations recognised under the National Occupation List and annual median wage increase (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – Further changes to the Skilled Migrant Category to come into effect on 24 August 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – Work to Residence Visa (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – China Special Work Category Visa (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – China Working Holiday Visa (accessed October 2026)
- Immigration New Zealand – How to find a job in New Zealand (accessed October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand – New minimum wage rates (1 April 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand – Employment rights in New Zealand (PDF) (accessed October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand – Annual holidays (accessed October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand – Sick leave (accessed October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand – 90-day trial periods extended to include all employers (accessed October 2026)
- New Zealand Legislation – Employment Relations Act 2000, s 67A (as amended by the Trial Periods Amendment Act 2023) (accessed October 2026)
- Inland Revenue (IRD) – Tax rates for individuals (accessed October 2026)
- Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Register of registered banks (accessed October 2026)
- Stats NZ – People of Asian ethnicities living in Aotearoa New Zealand (2023 Census) (accessed October 2026)
- European Central Bank – Euro foreign exchange reference rates (23 October 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- 中国政府网 – 职工带薪年休假条例 (accessed October 2026)
