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One does not simply walk into New Zealand. However, Malaysians can apply to work in NZ through the Working Holiday Visa (WHV).
There is a strong demand from New Zealand employers looking for workers coming from overseas.
Andy is one such Malaysian who moved to New Zealand 8 years ago, and most recently he bought a house in Auckland.
Andy left a cushy office job in Malaysia for greener pastures in New Zealand.
In 2015, Andy packed his bags and relocated to the Land of the Long White Cloud, as the native Maori call their homeland.
For the first one-and-a-half months, he was jobless and shooting resumes everywhere he could.
Luckily, he landed a job with an employer who was willing to sponsor a three-year work visa.
After three years, he got his residency approved, and now, he’s even bought a house with his wife, whom he met and married there.
Working in New Zealand, You Can Earn 22 Dollars Per Hour
Image right: For every 1 human in New Zealand, there are 5 sheep.
Those holding a Working Holiday Visa usually work restaurant and factory jobs. The minimum wage is 22.70 NZD (RM 64.70) per hour for a 40-hour work week.
Companies there usually shy from investing time and resources on a WHV holder because the visa has only six months of validity.
Most Malaysians earn a living the old-fashioned way:
- Gardening
- Farm work
- Picking fruit
If you’re planning to get a PR, you’ll need to find an employer who can sponsor you for at least 3 more years.
Compared to Kuala Lumpur, everything in Auckland is slow-paced and less stressful.
Andy posing with the city of Auckland, New Zealand, in the background.
“Unlike the office culture in Malaysia that tends to follow seniority and hierarchy, as long as you’re competent at your job, the path to a promotion is clear,” another Malaysian named Kai shared.
Kai started his journey in New Zealand as an international student at the University of Otago, and now works as a Malaysian entrepreneur in the country.
“It is a fair country with minimal to no corruption,” opined Kai.
Gender, racial, or age discrimination will not be tolerated in the workplace and is usually reported to the Employment Relations Authority.
Kai also mentioned that there is not much shift in mindset needed as long as you are not lazy and irresponsible. “The only difficult part is maybe the language barrier for some people who are not good at English,” he said.
What’s the local culture like in New Zealand?
Alt text: Cathedral Cove, coromandel, Auckland. Image via Andy.
“Life in New Zealand is all about nature,” shared Andy.
Aside from the popular Misty Mountains of LOTR fame, beaches, and nature reserves are aplenty all over the country.
Most Malaysians feel at home in Auckland, because half the population is made up of other South East Asians and Pacific Islanders.
As a whole, New Zealanders are laid back and friendly. To have a nice chat with a New Zealander, all you need to understand is that they love talking about how expensive supermarket food has gotten, how obsessed they are with Kiwi onion dip, and of course the weather.
Speaking of the weather: “The weather in Auckland is more like cool weather, it’s not freezing cold. Cold weather is for those wanting to live on the South island,” shared Kai.
How much does everything cost in New Zealand?
Most Malaysians and locals prefer to cook at home. Cooking at home can save you 200 – 400 NZD (RM 570 – 1,140) per week.
“Fast food or Asian fusion takeaway food costs between 5 to 10 NZD (RM 13 – 26),” shared Andy.
A plate of maggi goreng ayam costs at least 20 NZD in Auckland.
“If you’re cooking for four at home, a roast chicken at the local supermarket costs 13 NZD (RM 59), and a bag of 5kg rice costs 10 NZD (RM 26),” added Kai.
Cars are an affordable mode of transport in New Zealand.
Kai revealed that cars are cheap and affordable in New Zealand, which is why some WHV holders buy a car for under $5000, share it between 4 people, and sell it off when they leave.
The Malaysian driver licence can be used here without applying for an international driving permit. This makes getting a car very convenient to get to work and go on road trips.
Malaysians can use a New Zealand PR to hop over to Australia
“I might balik kampung to Malaysia one day, but since I just bought a house, I’ll be here for a long time,” shared Andy.
As for Kai, he shares that he co-founded Work in Aus & NZ, a non-profit venture that provides free visa advice to Malaysians. “We are a community of Malaysian expats who meet up for social gatherings, help each other find jobs, and connect each other with prospective flatmates,” added Kai.
Taking effect in July 2023, a new policy by the Australian government will speed up the transition from a New Zealand residency to an Australian residency for non-locals such as Andy.
Some Malaysians have shared that they may move from New Zealand to Australia with this new opportunity, but for Kai and Andy, this is their new home.
For more stories like this, read:
Here’s Why I Decided To Make Singapore My Home as a Malaysian Girl
Do you have an interesting story? Email us at hello@inreallife.my.
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