New Zealand: Te Anau

Explore New Zealand's South Island with its unique 8 unique geographical regions and diverse natural beauty, from soaring mountain peaks, fiords, lakes, rivers and native alpine bush. Te Anau is a town located in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857. The town has a wide range of accommodation, with over 3,000 beds available in summer.

Tourism and farming are the predominant economic activities in the area. Lying as it does at the borders of Fiordland National Park, it is the gateway to a wilderness area famed for tramping and spectacular scenery. Many species of bird life are also found locally, notably the endangered Takahe which can be found at the Fiordland Wildlife Park.

Te Anau is connected by highway with Invercargill to the southeast, Queenstown to the northeast, Gore to the east, and Manapouri to the south. Te Anau is the Start of the Milford Road the Highway to Milford Sound, which lies 120 kilometres to the north.

Te Anau has two schools; Fiordland College and Te Anau Primary school.






More historic pictures of Te Anau...

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Working at a Ski Field

Working at a ski resort is an excellent way to live in some of the most beautiful parts of the country and experience the unique alpine lifestyle. You will also get to do a lot of skiing or boarding! If you like the idea of skiing/ boarding for free and enjoy working with the public, then you're sure to enjoy a position at a ski resort. Remember these jobs are not all outdoors. Most resorts give their staff free ski passes, discounts on food and purchasing of ski gear. Please keep in mind that accomodation can be quite expensive and very hard to find-- Queenstown is particular. Remember, you may not be employed until the snow arrives, which means you will not be earning until you can start work. Applications for positions are often accepted over the internet.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Checklist for Working Holiday Scheme

Stage 1:
1. Photocopy of ID Card
2. Proof of full time student (University or Collage)
3. Letter of Motivation
4. Have a Valid Passport (valid for at least 3 months)
5.Visa application fee SG$139.00 (Visa Card/ Master Card)
6. Hold a Return flight ticket OR Sufficient Fund to purchase it
7. Evidence of Minimum Funds requirement NZ$2,250.00
 (in form of Cash/ Travellers Cheques/ Bank Drafts/ Credit Card with sufficient available credit)
8. Travel Insurance
9. International Student Identity Card (ISIC)
10. YHA/ Hi-Malaysia Card
11. Connect to IEP New Zealand

Stage 2:
1. Register for Working Holiday Program Online Services and Apply online
2. Completed all 4 Sections
  a. Personal Detail
  b. Health
  c. Character
  d. Working Holiday Specific

Stage 3:
1. Received an Electronic Visa - Working Holiday Scheme e-Visa
    - Make sure the data same as in passport
    - Print it and keep it safely with your passport
2. Re-confirm Date of Travel and port of Entry: Auckland
3. Re-confirm travel insurance policy with duration of cover
4. Notify IEP about your arrival

Working Holiday in New Zealand: IEP Employment Services

Job Support
We realise that finding a job can be one of the most anxious aspects of travelling to New Zealand and we put a lot of effort in to providing comprehensive employment support for all Work New Zealand participants.

Orientation Introduction to Finding Work
We have a comprehensive introduction to finding work in our orientation workshops. This is an overview of the basic types of jobs that are available around the country, the skills that you may require, resources to find a job and listings of current jobs available for immediate start around the country.

Job Noticeboard
Our Job Notice Board in the office is updated weekly by IEP Staff members who scan the job market each week for jobs that would be suitable for working holiday makers. This is then also put on the members lounge for easy access for participants outside of Auckland. We have great relationships with the trusted employers around the country who will often call us to tell tell us when they have vacancies.

Hot Jobs Newsletters
Unique and exciting job opportunities that come up through our local knowledge are emailed out to you in a weekly newsletter and we are only over a phone call away if you need advice or support.

Members Lounge
All listings on our Job Noticeboard are also listen on our online members lounge so participants can access this where ever they are in the country.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: IEP Arrival Services

Welcome Emails
On receipt of every booking we will email you to welcome you on the Work New Zealand program. Appoximately two weeks before you leave for New Zealand program. Approximately two weeks before you leave for New Zealand we will send you another email to remind you about your airport transfer, accomodation and when your arrival oreintation is.

IEP Members Lounge
The IEP Members Lounge is accessed through the IEP website - http://www.worknewzealand.org.nz/. You will be sent an email which provides you with a password to access the Members Lounge. The Members Lounge provides information on banking, tax, insurance, events around the country, mail forwarding and jobs. There are message boards for selling and buying as well as general travel hints and tips.

Arrival Orientation
Orientation begins at 10:00am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For group arrivals of 10 or more we will also hold orientation on a Tuesday and Thursday. You do not need to book in for orientation, you can just come up to the office befire it begins at 10:00am. Questions are encouraged to be asked throughout the session and where possible we will tailor the orientation to include information specific to your needs.

Orientation runs for approximately 2.5 hours and give you comprehensive information which includes the following:

Finding a job, including CV advice
Opening a bank account
Travel options around New Zealand
Tax, including applications for IRD (tax numbers)
Buying a car
Mobile phones
How to find short and long term accomodation

During the Orientation we also take you through a virtual tour of New Zealand. We look at different regions, cities and twons and share our personal highlights of the country. We also examin ejobs that are available in different parts of the country, the price of accomodation as well as highlighting some of the must do and see activities.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: WWOOFing

WWOOFing is a great way to experience the real, rural New Zealand. Compared to fruit picking, you do not earn any money, you also don't have to spend anything as you receive accomodation and food in exchange for your work. Depending on the farm you work for, you work 4-6 hours a day. To find farms that hire WWOFers, you need to become a member of network. Costs are $40 and you recieve a book with hundreds of farms all over NZ. You just have to find a farm that suits you and is looking for a worker. If you want to become a WWOOFer, here are some tips from former participants:

- Be prepared to entertain yourself-- books, hobbies, or creativity.

- Rural areas may not have reliable phone coverage-- let your mum know where you're going for the week just in case she can't get through.

- Have mucky clothes-- or washables-- if you can.

- Be flexible and willing -- there are a lot of different kinds of work.

- Read the descriptions in the WWOOFing guide to find compatible hosts-- you may need to call half-a-dozen or more hosts to find a place, and you'll get better responses if you choose the ones most likely to suit in the first place. Do you want to become part of a family for a few days, or hang out with a crowd of fellow travelers and employees?

- Calling ahead, by a few days to a week, tends to work well.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Different Types of Seasonal Work

Seasonal work is rewarding, but requires energy. Take a hat, (legionnaire is best) lots of water, sunscreen and plenty to eat and drink. It is recommended to wear light coloured clothing with long sleeves and lace-up shoes. The fresh air and golden suntans are an added bonus!

Fruit Picking
Picking fruit from trees (often from a ladder) into picking bags which are then emptied into a bin.
- Reasonably good level of fitness required. Must be able to work outdoors in the heat.

Tractor Driving
This could involve moving bins in the rows for pickers or transporting bins from orchard to shed.

Fruit Grading
Sorting of fruit on a conveyor belt before it goes into trays.
-May involve long periods of standing, and shift work.

Fruit Packing (Tray Filling)
Inside shed work filling trays with fruit.
- May involve long periods of standing, and shift work.

Stacking and Strapping
Stacking packed cartons of fruit onto pallets and strapping down.
- Requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Forklift Driving
- A Licence of OSH Certificate will be required.

Fruit Quality Control or Supervising
In the orchard or in the packing shed.
- Requires some experience and technical knowledge.