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If you’re up for a challenge, New Zealand can offer you a happy and satisfying career as well as a lifestyle that developer programmers in most countries can only dream of.
Great job opportunities for developer programmers
Your skills are highly sought-after in New Zealand – there are developer programmer shortages throughout the country, and demand is growing.
Developer programmers have the opportunity to work organisations of various sizes - from large global exporters to even cool startups.
Working conditions are excellent and New Zealand's booming tech sector emphasises an innovative, creative, entrepreneurial spirit. But the high growth is matched with high flexibility; with more than 41% of tech workers with flexible hours.
Flexible work
Developer programmers in New Zealand have a varied case mix, opportunities to work flexibly, and the support they need to thrive professionally and personally.
New Zealand’s high-quality tech sector is made up of a large number of tech companies and tech-driven social enterprises that aim to make the world a better place.
There are vacancies around the country, so you may be able to choose what size of tech company you want to work in.
Many developer programmers work part-time, especially those with young children.
Interested in coming to New Zealand?
Take the first step to a new life by registering your interest with Immigration New Zealand. We’ll send you personalised emails about job opportunities in your profession, life in New Zealand and choosing the right visa.
It’s free and there’s no obligation.
World renowned quality of life
New Zealand has the work-life balance just right.
Working hard and getting ahead is important to us. We’re a well-developed, well-connected country with all sorts of opportunities to advance your career. But New Zealanders also believe life is for living. It’s about balancing a good day’s work with time for family and friends plus easy access to some of the world's most stunning landscapes.
Safe and secure
New Zealand consistently rates at the top of lists of the world’s most peaceful and least corrupt countries. While feeling safe is a luxury in many places, it's one that New Zealanders are accustomed to. Our strict border controls and low level of crime means safer communities, greater personal freedom and peace of mind for you and your family.
New Zealand ranked second on the 2017 Global Peace Index of safest countries to live and topped Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perception Index.
Family friendly
If you have a family, New Zealand is probably one of the best choices you could make. Along with affordable, quality education, your children will be able to get close to nature and enjoy an incredibly diverse range of activities.
It’s why so many Kiwis living abroad come back home when it’s time to start nesting. They know that children here enjoy many things other countries just can’t offer.
We make fitting in and getting set up in your new country easy. And less commuting plus a better work-life balance means you get to spend more time with your family.
New Zealand is the world's second most desirable place for families, according to HSBC's 2015 Expat Explorer survey. One family-critical topic of the survey covered was 'healthcare', where our system was rated as the best in the world.
Space to breathe
We're similar in size to the UK and have all the benefits of an advanced Western economy - but with only a fraction of the population, so you'll have space to breathe.
Auckland, our largest city, was ranked third in the 2016 Quality of Living survey conducted annually by the global HR consultants Mercer.
New Zealand’s renowned natural beauty is never far from view. Over thirty percent of New Zealand is dedicated to national parks, boasting fertile green countryside, majestic forests and snow-capped mountains, and no part of New Zealand is more than seventy-five miles (120km) away from the ocean.
A very warm welcome
New Zealanders open their hearts to newcomers. The Maori people have a saying “He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata” which translates to “What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.”
Our warmth and hospitality are a product of our size. Living on the edge of the world as we do, it’s second nature for New Zealanders to reach out and make connections.
It's not surprising then that nine out of ten migrants find the welcome they receive meets or exceeds their expectations.
Developer programmers in New Zealand tend to work in small, friendly teams, so it’s easy to meet people and make new friends.
More information
Moving to New Zealand
There may be a number of visas you are eligible to apply for – each with its own criteria and application process.
Your 5 step plan to make it happen
1. Find your niche
Whether you’re interested in working for a large tech exporter or a digital start-up, New Zealand’s diverse and advanced tech sector has a wealth of opportunities.
Growth areas include high-tech manufacturing, telecommunications, game development, web and mobile development, cybersecurity, agritech, fintech and wireless infrastructure.
Tech firms say the technologies most likely to have an impact on their businesses in the near future are artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, along with augmented reality and virtual reality.
You can choose to work in the kind of intensive environment you might find in Silicon Valley, yet with all the advantages of the unique New Zealand lifestyle.
2. Find a job
You may be able to choose what size of organisation you want to work in, or whether you’d like to live in Auckland's big data and fintech, or Wellington's web, mobile and game development. Whatever you prefer, you’ll need a job offer before you can apply for a work visa. To discover where you could work as a developer programmer in New Zealand, check out these job websites:
- Seek or Trade Me Jobs - general job vacancy sites
- Workhere or Working In New Zealand match offshore workers with Kiwi employers
- Job vacancy and recruitment sites listed by Careers New Zealand
3. Apply for a visa
Good news - developer programmers are on New Zealand’s skill shortage lists. That means applying for a visa may be easier, providing you have a full-time job offer and the right work experience and qualifications. You may also be able to bring your partner and children with you.
4. Investigate your costs
The cost of living may be different to back home, depending on where you’re from and where you plan to live in New Zealand.
5. Plan your move
To make your move hassle-free, try NZ Ready. This free online tool gives you a personalised task list to help you plan your move to New Zealand and make settling here easier.
NZ Ready
NZ Ready
You love your job as a developer programmer, but does it come at the expense of time with your family and friends? Do you want to learn new skills in an exciting environment, while still having the time and energy for a life of your own? New Zealand could well be the answer.
NZ Ready online planning tool
NZ Ready is a free online tool to help you plan your move to New Zealand, ensuring you know how things work here and have a hassle-free move.