New Zealand is a land of great scenic beauty and an incredibly rich culture of history, languages, and fascinating people. Despite its appealing green landscapes and beaches, there is a sluggish economy that is nearing a recession, not to mention an unemployment rate that is slowly trending upwards, not down.
However, residents remain optimistic. After all, there are so many incredible distractions across the nation’s sumptuous regions––including the bustling metropolitan areas like Wellington and Auckland.
If you live in New Zealand and you’re looking to take up a weekend job––that is, not a full-time job, and maybe something a little less flexible than a part-time opportunity––there are plenty of financial reasons to do so. But also, other benefits align with a greater work-life balance and increased workweek flexibility. For whatever your reasons, this article includes the best types of weekend jobs, from all types of industries and skillsets, that you can find in New Zealand right now.
The Top 20 Weekend Jobs Available Right Now in New Zealand
1. Food Delivery Driver
Scope of work: Always a popular position, food delivery drivers are surging in popularity everywhere. Countless apps in New Zealand connect restaurants with customers to help facilitate ordering in––and these apps need reliable drivers or delivery people to get the orders to the customer’s door. If you own your own vehicle (or even if you don’t: many platforms let you deliver by scooter, bicycle, or by foot) and have some weekend time to spare, you can supplement your income with some quick cash plus tips.
Salary range: NZD $20 to $25 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation, social
2. Website Tester
Scope of work: A mostly remote job, working as a website tester in New Zealand allows for great flexibility and competitive pay. While no formal training is required, testers can take on as many assignments as they can handle––perfect for a weekend! All that is typically expected is a strong internet connection, an updated web browser, and a reliable computer. The rest is mostly self-explanatory.
Salary range: NZD $18 to $23 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, observation, creative
3. Proofreader
Scope of work: Proofreading is becoming a massively popular calling for anyone with a computer and an internet connection. There are plenty of companies in New Zealand, but even more online, looking for qualified people to review content and accurately assess the grammar, syntax, and readability of prints before they are published. If you have a weekend to spare, you can easily pick up some good money.
Salary range: NZD $40 to $47 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, negotiation, observation, creative
4. Transcriptionist
Scope of work: A job that is growing in popularity worldwide, transcriptionists are in high demand in New Zealand thanks to the many businesses (many of which ask for no experience) that require written transcriptions of audio/visual sources. If you are really adept at typing and can work seamlessly over the weekends, you’re sure to find a gig that suits your skills and schedule.
Salary range: NZD $34 to $48 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation
5. Barista
Scope of work: New Zealanders love coffee (who doesn’t?). So what better way to work with the public, while earning good money and honing communication and hospitality skills, than joining one of the country’s many coffee shops as a weekend barista? Making coffee, serving food, and performing additional administrative duties is a great job for a Saturday or Sunday––and highly in demand.
Salary range: NZD $22 to $28 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, observation
6. Sous Chef
Scope of work: Sous chefs are invaluable across the country as they provide dedicated kitchen support for head chefs working under tight timelines and stressful conditions. These positions typically involve overseeing the main responsibilities of running the kitchen, including preparing, cooking, and plating food. Many restaurants don’t need sous chefs during the slower days of the week, so they are perfect for those with availability on weekends.
Salary range: NZD $28 to $34 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation, culinary
7. Sommelier
Scope of work: If you are looking for a weekend job that works well with your superior wine skills, then a sommelier position might be for you. These jobs are in high demand across New Zealand’s hotels and fine dining establishments. They are expected to suggest wine and food pairings, help chefs create up-to-date wine listings, and promote their business at wine-based events.
Salary range: NZD $24 to $31 per hour
Skills required: Communication; Negotiation; Time management; Teamwork
8. Freelance Copywriter
Scope of work: Like their graphic design counterparts, copywriters work to create punchy, readable, and engaging works that catch people’s eyes and convince them to buy things they might not otherwise buy. It’s a fun and challenging industry that requires expert skills and proficiencies. But once you’ve got it down pat, you can go for miles, especially as a freelancer.
Salary range: NZD $38 to $42 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, creative
9. Restaurant Server
Scope of work: A serving job in one of New Zealand’s many fantastic restaurants is one of the quickest and easiest finds for a weekend job seeker. A relatively seamless find, hospitality work comes with paid training, flexible hours, and the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills by interacting with interesting people––all while earning a decent wage + tips by taking orders and bringing food to the table.
Salary range: NZD $18 to $25 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, observation, social
10. Retail Sales Associate
Scope of work: New Zealand has many shops dealing with goods and services from many different industries. And these shops need to be maintained by dedicated and knowledgeable retail assistants. While many senior-level associates work the Monday-to-Friday crowd, there are still plenty of opportunities available for those willing to tackle the busy weekends.
Salary range: NZD $24 to $42 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, negotiation, observation
11. Flight Attendant
Scope of work: New Zealand can often feel like it sits at the edge of the world. Which is probably why so many people want to come and visit. As such, there are tons of flights entering and leaving the country at any given time, so flight attendants can expect to make some great cash and connections by working the odd weekend.
Salary range: NZD $41 to $52 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, negotiation, observation
12. Call Center Agent
Scope of work: These types of telecom-based professions are in high demand in New Zealand since users are always reaching out for information about a product or service. These roles are perfect for a weekend jobseeker with plenty of flexibility and good conversation skills––all you need is a script, a telephone, and a few hours free on your Saturday or Sunday.
Salary range: NZD $24 to $42 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, negotiation, social
13. Customer Service Representative
Scope of work: Many businesses in New Zealand have customer service departments that require skilled professionals to man the desks during the hectic weekend hours. These kinds of jobs need talented people who can manage the overflow of incoming telecommunication questions and give back exceptional customer assistance. If you are willing to work weekends, companies will often provide training and a competitive wage.
Salary range: NZD $28 to $39 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, sales, negotiation
14. Content Creator
Scope of work: Content creators in New Zealand, like those just about anywhere else, can expect to earn great money on the weekends simply by making engaging content that resonates with their followers. It doesn’t have to be big-budget, visual FX-heavy stuff…whatever you are good at will likely have an existing audience. Just tap in and start counting your views.
Salary range: NZD $30 to $52 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, social, languages
15. Bartender
Scope of work: New Zealanders, like many others, like to pop into the pub on the weekends and catch up with friends over a drink. And this presents opportunities for those with skills for slinging suds and crafting cocktails. Best of all, bartenders can boast flexible schedules and good pay while interacting with interesting folks of all kinds.
Salary range: NZD $18 to $25 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork, observation, social
16. Taxi Driver
Scope of work: Getting around New Zealand is no small feat. Every country has people looking to get from point A to B––with no mode of transportation of their own. If you’ve got some time on the weekends to gather some fares and get them to their destinations, you can likely find quick and easy work with one of the country’s major taxi companies. Just make sure you are up to date on your licensing and registration and are properly insured.
Salary range: NZD $18 to $24 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation, social, negotiation
17. Freelance Graphic Designer
Scope of work: Graphic designers in New Zealand with a Saturday to spare can look for many different types of work opportunities from across the country’s vast range of businesses. Freelancers of this creative skillset can put together creative visuals for print or digital assets while working as much or as little as they wish want, while constantly developing greater design skills.
Salary range: NZD $38 to $45 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, negotiation, creative, observation
18. Virtual Assistant
Scope of work: A weekend virtual assistant includes mostly administrative work, like data entry, scheduling, and managing workloads. It’s a great opportunity to hone those organization skills and build connections in various industries all while working a flexible schedule during your Saturday and Sunday.
Salary range: NZD $22 to $29 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, teamwork
19. Translator
Scope of work: Translators in New Zealand can help companies solve communication barriers associated with foreign languages and deliveries, especially within the financial sectors of downtown Wellington, Auckland, and other major metropolitan areas. Being able to translate Maori or other Oceanic-based languages into English, French, and German is a skill that will take any candidate far.
Salary range: NZD $35 to $47 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation, language, teamwork
20. Tour Guide
Scope of work: New Zealand is a country of beautiful scenery that tourists love to visit. So why not use your weekend to earn some money showing them around? Tour guides are in high demand throughout the nation thanks to the demand of thousands of visitors each year. If you have a strong knowledge of local sites and landmarks, you can reach out to touring companies and commit to a few hours on Saturday or Sunday.
Salary range: NZD $26 to $36 per hour
Skills required: Communication, time management, observation, social
There you have it! The top 20 weekend jobs available in New Zealand right now. However you plan to fill your Saturday and Sunday schedules, there is a position out there for you. Skilled labor, specialized creative roles, engaging hospitality gigs…the options are endless. All you need is a weekend free, some flexibility, and a positive attitude, and you can turn any wish into a paid job.
