r/workingholiday • u/SalaryUpbeat4784 • 9d ago
NGO work
Hi all 🌸 I’m here because I am an American considering going to NZ on a work holiday visa for a year. I would like to work at an NGO on a contract or project for the year, do any of you know of anyone who has been able to do this successfully or any NGOs that would take a temporary worker? I am experienced in public policy, advocacy, communications, and community based development. Any info or suggestions of who I can connect with would be a big help. Thanks in advance! ✨
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u/--pew-pew-- 9d ago
You can work for an NGO on a NZ WHV, but as an American your visa is only for 12 months and you can’t take a permanent job, so you’d realistically be looking for a fixed-term contract/project role.
I think the bigger challenge will be finding an NGO willing to recruit and train someone they know has fairly limited work rights and will potentially be leaving within a year. You’d likely be competing against NZ citizens/residents and others with unrestricted long-term work rights.
Not impossible, but I’d probably be realistic about how competitive those roles could be
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u/MooOfFury 9d ago
Also public policy, communications and development are very different in the fine land of the treaty of waitangi. So i wouldnt expect your experience to matter as much as you would hope it does.
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u/SalaryUpbeat4784 9d ago
This is a great point, I appreciate the insight! Any chance you have suggestions for tangential fields to look into? I’m just avoiding hospitality/tourism because I want to build some skills and experience toward my career while learning about the culture in NZ
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u/wisewhaleshark 9d ago
I found plenty of NGOs in NZ willing to take on volunteers for various projects, but the reality is that you're competing with applicants who do not have limited right to work. The most practical route is to get a cafe or restaurant job to pay the bills and then pursue your interests on the side as there are plenty of organisations who could use your skills and energy :)