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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 construction project managers in most countries can only dream of.
Great job opportunities for construction project managers
Your skills are highly sought-after in New Zealand – there are construction project manager shortages throughout the country, and demand is growing.
New Zealand's smaller size means construction project managers tend not to specialise: a large company might work on schools, hospitals, high rises, apartment complexes and industrial buildings.
Join New Zealand's booming construction sector which offers an excellent work/life balance and an incredible outdoor lifestyle.
Construction project managers are on New Zealand’s skill shortage lists, so if you have a full-time job offer – and the right experience and qualifications – it may be easier to apply for a visa.
Flexible work
Construction project managers 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 extensive construction activity, especially relating to major Auckland housing projects, as well as the Christchurch rebuild and Wellington earthquake strengthening, ensures that there are plenty of opportunities for construction project managers in New Zealand.
New Zealand's construction sector encompasses projects of various sizes and often involves working on smaller projects - from start to finish - that enable them to broaden their range of skills.
There are vacancies around the country, so you may be able to choose what size of the company you want to work in and whether you’d like to live in a big city, a fast-growing regional centre or a relaxed country town.
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.
Construction project managers 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. Check your skills and experience
Prospective employers will want to assess your experience, skills, and background in working on relevant projects. Overseas-trained construction project managers are often particularly valued for their experience in working on large-scale developments. It's not mandatory, but many construction project managers join the New Zealand Institute of Building. The institute offers its members professional development and networking opportunities.
New Zealand Institute of Building
New Zealand Institute of Building
2. Find a job
Construction project managers are needed in many of the country’s major city centres, with extensive construction activities in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. 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 construction project manager 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 - construction project managers 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.
Work visas | Immigration New Zealand
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. Use our calculator to find out what your income and expenses might be in New Zealand.
Cost of Living Calculator
Cost of Living Calculator
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 construction project manager, but does it come at the expense of time with your family and friends? Do you want to achieve new goals, while still having 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.