Immigration minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that changes to
New Zealand’s working holiday visa scheme, which he claims will make the opportunity more appealing to young people.

Currently, a working holiday visa allows its holder to study a single course of up to three months in length whilst working and travelling in New Zealand. However, as of July 2009, a holder will be able to study multiple courses over the course of the year. Furthermore, courses may also be extended from a maximum of three months duration to a possible six months, depending on the holder’s nationality.

30 countries currently participate in the New Zealand working holiday visa scheme, something which Dr Coleman says exemplifies the fine relationship New Zealand has with many other nations:

“Working holiday schemes are a great way of encouraging young people to visit New Zealand. They raise New Zealand’s profile and, in foreign policy terms, signify a strong bilateral relationship,” he said.

It is estimated that last year the New Zealand economy generated NZ$103 million from working holidaymakers alone.

Anyone looking to spend a year working and travelling in New Zealand should e-mial enquiries@my-oe.com