Being a student in New Zealand means juggling classes, assignments, and a tight budget. With rising tuition fees, rent, and everyday expenses, it can feel like there’s no time (or money) left to enjoy life.
But here’s the good news: there are plenty of flexible ways to make money while you study—whether you’re looking for part-time jobs, freelance gigs, or online opportunities. In this guide, we’ll walk you through proven methods to earn an extra thousand dollars, from retail jobs to passive income streams, all tailored to fit a student’s hectic schedule.
Ready to boost your income without sacrificing your studies? Let’s dive in!
Part-Time Jobs
Many students in New Zealand work part-time to cover their expenses. Here are some common options, along with tips on where to find them:
- Retail Jobs
Supermarkets, clothing stores, and bookshops often hire students. You can work as a cashier, sales assistant, or shelf stocker.
Where to find: Visit local stores like Countdown, New World, Kmart, or The Warehouse. Many companies post job openings on their websites or use job boards like Seek NZ and Student Job Search (SJS). - Hospitality Jobs
Restaurants, cafes, and bars need waiters, baristas, and kitchen assistants. This job is great if you enjoy working with people.
Where to find: Walk into your favorite cafes and restaurants to inquire about positions, or check listings on Seek NZ and NZRecruitment. - Tutoring
If you’re good at a subject, tutoring can be a rewarding way to make money. You can tutor in person or online and charge an hourly rate.
Where to find: Join Tutorhub or advertise on Student Job Search (SJS). You can also create ads in local Facebook groups or on your university’s noticeboards. - Babysitting & Pet Sitting
Parents need babysitters, and pet owners need dog walkers. These jobs are flexible and easy to find.
Where to find: Look for opportunities on Sittercity, NZ Pet Sitters, or through local Facebook groups for babysitting and pet sitting.
Make Money Online in NZ
If you prefer working from home, there are many ways to make money online in NZ. Here are some ideas, along with specific websites to get started:
- Freelancing
Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer allow you to offer skills like writing, graphic design, or video editing.
Where to find: Create a profile on these platforms, start with small projects, and build up your portfolio. - Online Surveys
Some companies pay for your opinions on various topics. Websites like Valued Opinions, Toluna, and iSay offer money or gift cards for answering surveys.
Where to find: Register on these survey platforms to start earning. - Selling Online
You can sell clothes, books, or handmade crafts on platforms like Trade Me, Facebook Marketplace, and Etsy.
Where to find: Create accounts on these platforms and start listing items. If you’re into designing, consider Redbubble for custom merchandise. - Affiliate Marketing
Promote products on social media or a blog. If someone buys through your affiliate link, you earn a commission.
Where to find: Join affiliate programs like AffiliateNZ or global networks such as Amazon Associates. Create a blog on WordPress or a YouTube channel to promote products. How to Start? - YouTube & Blogging
If you enjoy creating videos or writing, start a YouTube channel or a blog. Once you gain followers, you can earn money from ads and sponsorships.
Where to find: Set up a blog using WordPress or Medium. For YouTube, start by creating engaging content and learning video editing tools like DaVinci Resolve.
Gig Work & Odd Jobs
Gig jobs are short-term tasks that you can do in your free time. Some examples include:
- Food Delivery
Work with apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Deliveroo to deliver food by car, bike, or scooter.
Where to find: Download the respective apps and sign up to start working as a food delivery driver. - Ridesharing
If you have a car, you can drive for Uber or Ola and earn money by giving rides.
Where to find: Sign up as a driver through the Uber or Ola apps. - House Cleaning & Gardening
Some people pay for help with cleaning or gardening. You can offer services in your neighborhood.
Where to find: Look for job listings on Squeegee for cleaning jobs, or offer your services through local Facebook groups.
Passive Income Ideas
Passive income means making money with little effort after setting something up. Here are a few ways:
- Investing
Apps like Sharesies, Hatch, and EasyCrypto let you invest small amounts in stocks or cryptocurrency. Over time, your investments can grow.
Where to find: Download these apps to start investing. Make sure to do thorough research or take advantage of educational resources available on these platforms. - Selling Digital Products
Create and sell e-books, online courses, or templates to earn passive income.
Where to find: Use platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, Udemy, or Etsy to sell your digital products.
Work-From-Home Jobs
Some companies hire students for remote work. These jobs allow you to work from the comfort of your home.
- Customer Service
Many companies hire remote workers for customer service roles.
Where to find: Look for remote customer service jobs on Seek NZ, LinkedIn, or Remote OK. - Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant helps businesses with tasks like scheduling, email management, and social media.
Where to find: Start looking for opportunities on websites like Upwork, Freelancer, or LinkedIn. - Transcription
You can earn money by typing audio recordings for companies.
Where to find: Join platforms like Rev or TranscribeMe for transcription work.
In the end
There are many ways to make money in NZ, even as a student. Whether you choose a part-time job, work online, or do gig work, there’s something for everyone. Be sure to explore these options and start earning extra cash today. With the right strategy, you can balance your studies while making money to support your lifestyle.