Country guide
Au pair in New Zealand.
Working holiday, outdoor life. Here is what the exchange typically looks like there — money, hours, paperwork and pace of life.
- Typical pocket money
- NZ$250–NZ$320 / week
- Hours
- Agreed per family
- Time off
- Weekends mostly free
- Typical stay
- 6–12 months
- Language
- English
The visa, in plain language
Like Australia, New Zealand has no au pair visa but a wide working holiday scheme. Live-in childcare counts as employment, so minimum wage rules apply with board and lodging deducted at agreed rates.
- 01
Check your eligibility for the Working Holiday visa (usually 18–30)
- 02
Agree hours, duties and deductions for board in writing
- 03
Apply for the visa online and arrange travel insurance
- 04
Get an IRD number and bank account in your first week
Typical current practice, January 2026 — not legal advice. Always check the country's official immigration guidance before applying.
What makes New Zealand different
- Outdoor family life — beaches, bush walks and weekend camping
- Employment rules mean clear, written pay arrangements
- Small, safe cities that are easy to settle into quickly
- Easy to combine with travel at the end of a placement
Read before you go
Au pair visas: how the main routes workVisas and paperwork · 9 min read Driving as an au pair: licences, insurance and nervesDaily life · 5 min read Au pair pocket money by country: pay, hours & costs in 2026Money · 9 min read The first month: a week-by-week settling-in planGetting started · 7 min read
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