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.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Before Your Arrival

Your Visa
The New Zealand Government intends the Working Holiday Visa to be for young people who are travelling around the country and who need to work to up their finances.

Proof of Funds
Your visa issued on the understanding that you will be able to show that you have access to a certain amount of money on entry to New Zealand. For Malaysians the minimum fund is NZ$2,250. Usually, on average it takes 1 to 3 weeks to find a job. Make sure you bring enough money to support yourself for at least 6 weeks since you are not often paid for two weeks after starting your job. Also a deposit may be required before you can move into your accomodation.

Money Currency and Value
New Zealand's unit of curency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZ$). There are coins to the value of 10, 20 and 50 cents and $1 and $2. The notes (bills) are to the value of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. All the notes are a different size and colour, making it easy to distinguish the different values.

ATM Cards and Withdrawing Money
You can access money from your home bank account visa the international cash machine network. For this you need a debit card either a Maestro, Plus, Visa or Cirrus symbol on it. Most banks will impose a transaction charge for cash machine (ATM) withdrawals made outside the country of origin. Contact your bank for details of the international banking services they offer and check if your pin number will work in New Zealand. Also, most ATM's in New Zealand have a withdrawal limit of NZ$800 per day.

If there is not a bank in your area, enquire at your local store as New Zealand has a nationwife system of EFTPOS terminals (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale). You will be issued with a NZ EFTPOS Card when you open a bank account in New Zealand. This system allows you to use your cash card as a form of payment and in most cases for withdrawing cash from your account at almost any store, bar, cafe, taxi, etc. accross New Zealand.

Credit Cards
If you have, or can get, a credit card, you should take it with you when you travel. Credit cards can often to be used as ID and they will enable you to make telephone bookings for concerts, reserve plane tickets, or make hotel reservations. Credit cards are usually necessary for renting a car and you also withdraw cash at the bank using a credit card. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards throughout the world. Make sure you know the PIN number for your card (if you have one) and your credit limit. We recommend you inform your bank in advance that you will be travelling overseas to New Zealand and that you may be making a large purchase, such as a vehicle or bus pass. You may also get a Visa Debit Card which acts as a Visa card for online purchase.

Working Holiday in New Zealand: What should I bring with me?

Packing/ Baggage
It is recommended that you take a backpack instyead of a suitcase. Choose quality and strong pack, and comfortable for you to carry it. We suggest you to take a smaller 'daypack' too as hand baggage. This will be useful for carrying things such as camera, maps, guides note, personal care items etc.

Climate
Please take a note, the warmest months of the year in New Zealand are December, January and February. The coldest months are June, July and August.
The North of New Zealand is sub-tropical and the South more temperate.

Electricity
The outlet for electricity has two or three pins. The electrical power current in New Zealand is 240 volts, AC, 50HZ. It is highly recommend you purchase a travel adapter before leaving your home country.

Phone Unlocking
Most phones from Europe and Asia will work in New Zealand simply by inserting a New Zealand sim card. We do recommend checking your phone is unlocked before you arrive. You also can purchase second hand phones in New Zealand.

Money
Bring at least NZ$2,250 to New Zealand as minimum requirement for this program. You can bring money in cash or bank draft. Please note it takes at least 5 days to deposit money into your New Zealand bank account. Credit card is not necessary but incase if you run out of money, credit card will be useful. Make sure you use it only for things or issue that you really need and not overspend it.

Essential (keep in hand luggage)

• Airline tickets
• Passport
• Insurance policy booklet
• ISIC card (if eligible)
• Lonely Planet Guide: New Zealand
• Traveller's checks
• Credit card
• International ATM card for home bank account

Optional Useful Items

• Interview/ work clothing and shoes
• A dressy outfit
• Fleece and sweater
• Light waterproof coat
• Swim wear
• Comfortable shoes/ hiking boots/ walking sandals
• Those items of clothing you can't live without (be choosy)
• Sleeping bag
• Towel
• Alarm clock
• Small maglight or similar flashlight
• Small Swiss Army knife or similar (do not pack in hand luggage)
• Camera and film
• Small first aid kit
• Small sewing kit
• Pen and notepad
• Any medication you may be taking (a doctor's certificate will be needed if you are taking more than four weeks supply of precribed drugs with you)
• Copy of CV/ Resume and references
• Travel diary and address book
• or sign up for a social networking site and online travel blog

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Accomodation Information

IEP recommend you to take X Based as backpacker place.
Auckland Central Backpackers

Working Holiday in New Zealand: Guidance for Malaysian

Malaysia Working Holiday Scheme

NEW ZEALAND : Guidance for Malaysian | Accomodation | Insurance | Job Placement

Why should I participate in work and travel programs?

So, you are interested to travel to New Zealand and work. There are few kinds of visas to allow you to enter and stay in New Zealand within certain period and conditions. If you have limited budget and want to experience life as a local, working holiday scheme in New Zealand is for you.

A working holiday visa is designed by New Zealand government to enable you to travel round New Zealand, while working to make money for your own travel fund. You can choose wherever in New Zealand you want to stay and work. That's mean, you are free to go from one location to another location in this country.

The long stay in New Zealand will open your opportunity to explore the wonderful nature scenery, people and culture. Seeking career position is not the main intention for most participants in this program. It is more about having fun and ability for you to gain your experience through travelling, live as a local, making some great friendships and learn to be independant.

1. How do I apply?

There are no places remaining under this scheme for the 2011 quota. Further places will become available in January 2012. Each year, 1150 places are available under this scheme allowing young citizens of Malaysia to stay in New Zealand.

Visa applications under this Working Holiday Scheme can be made online.

So, if you are interested to join this programme, it is time for you to make early preparation.

2. How long can I stay in New Zealand?

You can stay in New Zealand up to six months under this program.

3. Am I eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

• have a Malaysian passport that‘s valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
• be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old
• not bring children with you
• hold a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket*
• have a minimum of NZ$2,250 available funds to meet your living costs while you’re here
• meet our health and character requirements
• be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work or study being secondary intentions for your visit
• not have been approved a visa under a Working Holiday Scheme before.

AND

If you are already in New Zealand you also need to hold a valid temporary visa.

* Upon arrival in New Zealand you may be required to show evidence of available funds to support yourself while in the country, plus an onward airline ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one.

4. What is basic preparation once I arrived in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, you should

• open your New Zealand bank account
• get job placement services
• apply IRD (tax) number
• orientation session
• prepare for your arrival hostel

If you are participate in this program under International Experience Program New Zealand's partner organization in Malaysia, keep your mind free as they will assist you to prepare for your accomodation, job placement services etc.

5. What types of job will I get and how about the payment?

Working holiday makers on a holiday visa for working are permitted to do any kind of work of a temporary or casual nature. Although you may have a certain job in mind, it is better to be flexible and open to other jobs. Here are some suggestions to start you thinking:

• Farm jobs
• Hotels, Motels and Hostels jobs
• Restaurants jobs
• Shops/Retail jobs
• Ski Resorts jobs
• Temping and career-related jobs

The current minimum wage in New Zealand is $9.50 an hour so you won't get paid any less than that.

6. Do I need travel insurance for my New Zealand working holiday visa?

Yes. However, once you get a job in New Zealand, you will be insured and covered by New Zealand Worker’s Compensation.

7. Can I undertake studies on my New Zealand Working Holiday visa?

Working Holiday visa makers are permitted to study or train for up to 3 months.


For more information on, please visit:
Malaysia Working Holiday Scheme in New Zealand

------------------------------------------------------------

Give me ideas about what kind of work should I select
and where it would be.
What should I do if I'm participating in this program
alone?
How to interact with local people and other
participants?
What will I get from this program?
Will the job enable me to recover my initial payments
and do some saving?
Is this working holiday program safe for me?
If I am homesick, what should I do?