Canterbury Situated on the eastern side of the South Island Canterbury is home to 10 districts, Christchurch being the largest with more than 316,000 of the regions total population of over 481,000, making it the second largest city in the country after Auckland. Christchurch is known as the ‘Garden City’ and is often referred to as ‘the most English outside of England.’ The Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park make up part of the 3000 hectares of Parkland.
The climate is mild and follows very much to the suit of the four seasons, with each season bringing about different activities and employment opportunities. Christchurch offers a huge variety of work along with the surrounding districts. The other districts of Canterbury are Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Selwyn, Ashburton, Mackenzie, South Canterbury, Waimate, and Banks Peninsula.
Kaikoura - where the mountains meet the sea, is only 2 hours north of Christchurch. The marine life experience on offer here is extraordinary. See the giant sperm whale, swim with dolphins or if your brave enough dive with the sharks! Although a small town, Kaikoura is generally buzzing with short term work prospects.
Nelson-Marlborough Nelson
is at the top of the south Island and is a beautiful region that is home to many diverse communities and a great climate. The Nelson/Tasman region usually has a population of close to 85,000, with towns like Motueka, Takaka and Murchison as small service centres. Three national parks all within 90 minutes of each other are Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and New Zealands second-largest national park Kahurangi all have an abundance of recreational activities and facilities. A natural, artistic and adventurous lifestyle is what this region is best known for and has a lot to offer the seasonal worker in the Tourism, fruit growing, fishing and forestry industries.
Marlborough
sits at the top right of the South Island and has a population about halve that of the Nelson/Tasman region, encompasses Blenheim, Picton, Havelock and the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds. Marlborough is the biggest grape-growing region in New Zealand and produces a lot of seasonal work. Blenheim, which is the regions main service centre, has earned the title of the ‘Sunniest Town in New Zealand.’
Marlborough Sounds comprises three main waterways - the Queen Charlotte, Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds. The recreational opportunities here are boundless. Picton is the port for the Interislander ferries and the link to Wellington and the North Island. Tourism and fruit are where the majority of employment opportunities lie.
Otago From the eastern shores of Coastal Otago, where its capital city Dunedin is located, through to Central Otago, home of the tourist capital of New Zealand, Queenstown. The Otago region is populated with around 185,000 people, over 20,000 of them are students housed and educated in Dunedin and New Zealands oldest and most famous university.
Dunedin is renowned for its proximity to amazing wildlife, the worlds only mainland breeding colony of the Royal Albatross, the Yellow Eyed Penguin and New Zealand Sealions all live on the Otago Peninsular. Dunedin has a lot to offer as a city and that includes seasonal employment in a variety of flavours and a heap of great surf beaches.
Queenstown is best known for its incredible surroundings and adrenalin pumping adventure tourism. It is New Zealands premier destination for international and regional travellers because of its abundance of activities for all seasons. Ski season is a great time to find work on the mountains, and there is a consistently strong hospitality job market to cater for the amount of visitors. Nearby popular destinations include Milford Sound, Te Anau and Wanaka.
Central Otago is a very strong stone fruit and grape growing region, places like Wanaka, Alexandra are Cromwell are just a few places to find Orchard work.
Southland The Southern most region in the country which includes New Zealand’s third major segment, Stuart Island. Southland is ideal for those who want to escape city noise, hustle and bustle, high-rise buildings and thousands of other visitors. Its rugged unspoilt landscape is a fertile place of green farmland and forest, laced with sparkling clean waters and small towns.
The Southland population is approximately 90,000, and as a region it is well known for its very friendly residents, great brown trout fishing, the world renowned Bluff oyster and The Fiordland National Park World Heritage Area, which is one of the largest and wildest National Parks in the world. Stewart Island is a haven for native birdlife and the only place in New Zealand where kiwis can be seen in their natural habitat.
Invercargill is the regions major service and transport center, with a national airport and major bus company’s operating within. A recent inner city upgrade, and an influx of students since a free fee scheme was put in place, has generated a lively and character filled city with a variety of work opportunities. With the plentiful farmland, forestry and eco tourism present in the region each new season can offer a different working environment.
WestCoast The West Coast is a 600km long region that stretches half way down the western shores of the South Island. It contains the largest area of protected land of any region in New Zealand and is associated with more than half the country’s 14 national parks.
With the towns Greymouth, Westport and Hokitika as the main centres the West Coast inhabits a resident population of around 30,000. It is a developing tourism destination, which over the last years has seen good growth particularly from the international visitor segment.
The regions strengths lie in its abundance of rich natural attractions and resources such as the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier Valleys. Walks, trekking/tramping and scenic helicopter rides are some of the popular activities to do in the region.
The Hokitika Wild Food Festival is held each year, and attracts up to 7 times the population of Hokitika for just one weekend. It’s based on the West Coast’s natural food sources, from the land and sea, which are presented in weird and wild ways.
Most work will be found in or around the main 3 towns or close to the Glaciers with the strong emphasis on Tourism growing each year. If you want a break from the city life the West Coast is the place to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
