Remote Work

Remote Work in New Zealand

New Zealand has become increasingly friendly to remote workers, with excellent infrastructure and policy changes making it easier than ever to work remotely while enjoying Kiwi lifestyle.

Visa Changes for Remote Workers (2025)

Major Policy Change: All visitor visas applied for on or after January 27, 2025 allow you to work remotely in New Zealand, with no limit to the amount of remote work you can do while you have your visitor visa.

This means you can:

• Work for overseas employers while visiting NZ
• Conduct remote business
• Attend online meetings
• Complete remote projects

Still can't do:

• Work for New Zealand employers (need work visa)
• Provide services to NZ clients (need work visa)
• Set up NZ business without appropriate visa

Internet Infrastructure

Quality: New Zealand has excellent internet infrastructure, making remote work straightforward and stress-free.

Mobile Internet: New Zealand ranks among the top countries in the world for mobile internet, with all major carriers providing 4G and 5G services nationwide.

Fixed Broadband:

• Fiber widely available in urban areas
• VDSL/ADSL in areas without fiber
• Speeds: 100-1000 Mbps fiber, 30-100 Mbps VDSL

Regional Differences:

• Urban areas: High-speed internet and numerous coworking spaces
• Rural regions: May experience slower connections, satellite options available
• Small towns: Generally adequate but not as fast as cities

Major Providers:

• Spark (largest)
• Vodafone
• 2degrees
• Stuff Fibre
• MyRepublic

Typical Costs:

• Unlimited fiber (100Mbps): NZD $70-90/month
• Unlimited fiber (1000Mbps): NZD $90-120/month
• Mobile data: NZD $50-80/month for unlimited

Coworking Spaces

Auckland (largest selection):

• GridAKL (Wynyard Quarter): Hot desks, private offices, meeting rooms, event spaces
• Generator (Britomart): Prices starting around NZD $40-50 for full day
• The Workshop (Ponsonby): Fast wifi, lunch options, bookable meeting rooms, on-site showers
• Day pass: NZD $40-60
• Monthly membership: NZD $400-600

Wellington:

• Multiple coworking spaces in CBD
• Thriving café scene - many work from cafés
• Day pass: NZD $35-50
• Monthly: NZD $350-550

Christchurch:

• Growing coworking scene
• More affordable than Auckland/Wellington
• Day pass: NZD $30-45
• Monthly: NZD $300-500

Queenstown:

• ARGO Beach Coworking (New Brighton): Onsite cafe and bar, pricing from NZD $40/day
• Stunning views, adventure lifestyle
• More limited options than major cities

Other Cities:

• Tauranga, Hamilton, Dunedin have emerging coworking scenes
• Smaller towns: Limited formal coworking, but cafés with good wifi common

Working from Cafés

Café Culture: New Zealand has exceptional café culture, especially in Wellington (coffee capital).

Costs:

• Coffee: NZD $4-5
• All-day breakfast/lunch: NZD $18-28
• Most cafés welcome laptop workers
• Good wifi standard in urban cafés

Etiquette:

• Buy drinks/food regularly (don't camp with one coffee all day)
• Avoid peak meal times for extended stays
• Respect other customers' space

Time Zones

Challenges for Remote Workers:

New Zealand is UTC+12 (standard) or UTC+13 (daylight saving), making it one of the first countries to start the day.

Overlap with Common Markets:

USA (PST/EST):

• 19-21 hour difference
• Very little overlap
• May require early morning (5-7am NZ) or late evening calls

Europe (GMT/CET):

• 11-13 hour difference
• Minimal overlap
• Early morning NZ = evening Europe

Australia (AEST):

• 2-4 hour difference
• Excellent overlap
• Easy collaboration

Asia (SGT/JST):

• 4-7 hour difference
• Good overlap
• Workable for most schedules

Strategy: Remote workers often adjust schedules for client time zones or establish asynchronous workflows.

Best Cities for Digital Nomads

1. Auckland

• Largest city, most opportunities
• International airport with global connections
• Abundant coworking spaces
• Diverse food scene
• Higher cost of living
• Good for: Those who need variety and infrastructure

2. Wellington

• Capital city, compact and walkable
• Thriving café and arts culture
• Great public transport
• Strong tech community
• Windy but charming
• Good for: Creative workers, coffee lovers, those who like urban culture

3. Queenstown

• Adventure capital of NZ
• Stunning natural scenery
• Great for outdoor enthusiasts
• Smaller, tourist-focused
• Expensive accommodation
• Good for: Outdoor lovers, adventure seekers, seasonal workers

4. Christchurch

• Most affordable major city
• Flat, bikeable
• Rebuilding with modern infrastructure
• Four distinct seasons
• Growing tech scene
• Good for: Budget-conscious, those who want all seasons

5. Tauranga/Mount Maunganui

• Beach lifestyle
• Warmer climate
• Relaxed pace
• Growing population
• Limited coworking options
• Good for: Beach lovers, balanced lifestyle

Cost Comparison

High-Cost Cities (Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown):

• Rent (1BR): NZD $1,000-1,500/month
• Coworking: NZD $400-600/month
• Food/lifestyle: NZD $600-1,000/month
• Total: NZD $2,500-4,000/month

Mid-Cost Cities (Christchurch, Tauranga):

• Rent (1BR): NZD $700-1,000/month
• Coworking: NZD $300-500/month
• Food/lifestyle: NZD $500-800/month
• Total: NZD $1,800-2,800/month

Tax Implications

For Short-Term Visitors (under 183 days):

• Not tax resident
• Only NZ income taxed
• Overseas income not taxed by NZ

For Long-Term (over 183 days):

• Become tax resident
• Worldwide income taxable
• But: Transitional resident status may exempt foreign income for first 4 years
• Consult tax advisor

Pros of Remote Work in New Zealand

Lifestyle:

• Work-life balance culture
• Stunning natural beauty
• Outdoor activities on doorstep
• Clean environment
• Safe, stable country

Infrastructure:

• Reliable internet
• Modern facilities
• Good healthcare
• Quality coffee everywhere

Quality of Life:

• Ranks #14 globally (Quality of Life Index: 185.24)
• Low stress compared to many countries
• Friendly, welcoming culture

Cons of Remote Work in New Zealand

Time Zones:

• Difficult overlap with US/Europe
• May require unusual hours
• Can feel isolated from global teams

Cost:

• High cost of living, especially housing
• Imported goods expensive
• NZD currency can be volatile

Distance:

• Very far from most places
• Expensive flights home
• Limited direct flight options

Limited Job Market:

• If remote work ends, local opportunities limited
• Specialized roles may not exist locally
• Lower salaries than major global hubs

Tips for Remote Workers

1. Test internet before committing: Book Airbnb first, test connectivity before signing lease

1. Join remote work communities: InterNations, expat Facebook groups, coworking communities

1. Establish routine: Balance work and NZ lifestyle - don't miss out on experiences

1. Plan for time zone challenges: Set clear boundaries with clients about availability

1. Budget conservatively: NZ is expensive - ensure income covers costs with buffer

1. Explore while you can: Take advantage of NZ's incredible nature and activities

1. Network locally: Even if working remotely, build local connections for support

Recommended Resources:

• Nomad List for city comparisons
• Digital Nomad subreddit for NZ
• Meetup.com for professional networking
• WorkingNomads.co for remote job listings