Verified List of Companies Hiring Foreigners in New Zealand — Accredited Employer List 2026

New Zealand employers are recruiting international talent across construction, healthcare, IT, and hospitality — with Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) approvals confirmed and relocation support available.

Immigration New Zealand issued 180,000+ work visas in 2024-2025, with skilled worker visas accounting for 65% as the country battles its worst labor shortage in two decades, according to government workforce data.

Why this matters. For professionals seeking New Zealand residency, the Accredited Employer Work Visa is now the primary pathway — replacing previous schemes and requiring employer accreditation before any job offer can proceed.

What’s happening. New Zealand’s new immigration system launched in July 2022, fundamentally changing how foreign workers enter the country. Employers must now gain accreditation status before sponsoring anyone, creating a verified pool of legitimate hiring companies.

The accreditation advantage:

Accredited employers can:

• Hire migrant workers without advertising locally first (in most cases)
• Support faster visa processing through streamlined checks
• Demonstrate Immigration New Zealand approval and compliance history
• Offer pathways to residency through Skilled Migrant Category or sector-specific schemes

The verified companies:

Construction & Infrastructure (140+ employers)

• Fletcher Building — nationwide — project managers, site engineers, quantity surveyors
• Downer New Zealand — infrastructure projects — civil engineers, construction managers
• Fulton Hogan — North and South Island — heavy equipment operators, traffic management
• Hawkins Construction — Auckland, Wellington — structural engineers, carpenters
• McConnell Dowell — major projects — tunneling specialists, concrete workers

Healthcare & Aged Care (200+ facilities)

• Auckland District Health Board — Auckland region — registered nurses, medical imaging technologists
• Canterbury DHB — Christchurch — physiotherapists, occupational therapists
• Southern Cross Healthcare — nationwide — nursing staff, healthcare assistants
• Bupa Care Services — aged care facilities — enrolled nurses, caregivers
• Oceania Healthcare — retirement villages — registered nurses, activities coordinators

Information Technology (85+ companies)

• Xero — Wellington, Auckland — software engineers, product designers
• Datacom — nationwide — business analysts, cloud specialists
• Spark Digital — Auckland — developers, UX designers
• Trade Me — Wellington — backend engineers, data scientists
• Weta Digital — Wellington — VFX artists, software developers

Agriculture & Horticulture (120+ operations)

• Zespri International — Bay of Plenty — agronomists, packhouse supervisors
• Fonterra — nationwide — dairy technicians, quality assurance managers
• T&G Global — horticulture regions — orchard managers, post-harvest supervisors
• Silver Fern Farms — meat processing — production supervisors, maintenance fitters
• Seeka Kiwifruit — Bay of Plenty — packhouse managers, harvest coordinators

Hospitality & Tourism (95+ businesses)

• SkyCity Entertainment Group — Auckland — chefs, restaurant managers
• Accor Hotels — major cities — hotel managers, executive chefs
• Scenic Hotel Group — nationwide — front office managers, conference coordinators
• Queenstown Resort Hotels — Queenstown — ski instructors, hospitality supervisors
• Tourism Holdings — campervan operations — customer service managers, mechanics

Education (60+ institutions)

• University of Auckland — Auckland — academic staff, research fellows
• Victoria University — Wellington — lecturers, laboratory technicians
• Otago Polytechnic — Dunedin — vocational trainers, student support staff
• International schools — Auckland, Wellington — qualified teachers (IB, Cambridge)
• Private training establishments — nationwide — industry trainers, assessors

The numbers that matter:

• Accreditation validity: 12–24 months depending on employer size and history
• Median salary threshold: NZD $31.61/hour (2026 rate) for most skilled positions
• Visa processing times: 4–12 weeks for standard AEWV applications
• Pathway to residency: Straight to Residence visa available for roles on Green List
• Partner work rights: Partners of AEWV holders can work without restriction

Between the lines. New Zealand’s immigration reset prioritized skill levels and wage thresholds over occupation lists — meaning higher-paid roles in any field now have clearer pathways than lower-paid positions in “shortage” occupations.

What workers need to know:

The new system has three tiers:

Tier 1 – Straight to Residence (Green List Roles):

• Registered nurses, midwives
• Civil engineers, structural engineers
• Secondary school teachers (science, math, te reo Māori)
• ICU specialists, anesthetists
• Construction project managers

Tier 2 – Work to Residence (Green List):

• Chefs (with qualifications)
• Early childhood teachers
• Electricians, plumbers (licensed)
• Aged care registered nurses
• Veterinarians

Tier 3 – Standard AEWV:

• All other roles meeting wage and skill thresholds
• Maximum 3-year visa initially
• Potential pathway through Skilled Migrant Category after time

Regional variations:

Auckland (220+ accredited employers):

• Highest concentration of tech, finance, corporate roles
• Construction boom: housing, infrastructure mega-projects
• Competitive market, higher living costs

Wellington (110+ accredited employers):

• Government sector, tech startups, film industry
• Public service roles often require citizenship/residency
• Creative sector opportunities: Weta, gaming studios

Christchurch (90+ accredited employers):

• Post-earthquake rebuild continuing: construction, engineering
• Growing tech ecosystem, lower cost of living
• Healthcare expansion: aging population driving demand

Queenstown-Waikato (70+ accredited employers):

• Tourism recovery: hospitality, adventure tourism roles
• Agriculture: dairy, horticulture in Waikato
• Seasonal vs. permanent role considerations

Bay of Plenty (65+ accredited employers):

• Kiwifruit industry: year-round skilled positions
• Horticulture management, packhouse operations
• Regional growth: affordable housing, lifestyle appeal

What’s changed in 2026:

• Median wage threshold increased: Now NZD $31.61/hour (was $29.66 in 2024)
• Sector agreements expanded: Construction, meat processing, seafood processing
• Green List updates: New roles added in renewable energy, data analytics
• Employer obligations tightened: Settlement support requirements, compliance checks

Salary expectations by role (2026):

• Registered nurses: NZD $65,000–$85,000
• Software developers: NZD $80,000–$130,000
• Construction managers: NZD $90,000–$140,000
• Chefs (qualified): NZD $55,000–$75,000
• Engineers: NZD $75,000–$120,000
• Teachers: NZD $53,000–$90,000

The application process:

Step 1: Employer confirms accreditation status (check Immigration NZ database) Step 2: Job offer made, employment agreement signed Step 3: Employer submits Job Check (unless exempt) Step 4: Worker applies for AEWV with job offer evidence Step 5: Medical and police certificates submitted Step 6: Visa decision (4–12 weeks standard processing) Step 7: Travel to New Zealand, begin employment

Critical requirements:

• Qualifications recognition: NZQA assessment for regulated professions
• English language: IELTS 6.5 overall (or equivalent) for most roles, unless exempt
• Health standards: Chest X-ray, medical examination for stays over 12 months
• Character requirements: Police certificates from all countries lived 12+ months since age 17
• Genuine job offer: Employment agreement meeting NZ employment law standards

Red flags to avoid:

• Employers requesting “visa processing fees” from candidates (employer pays job check)
• Job offers without confirmed accreditation status
• Salaries below median wage threshold for non-exempt roles
• Promises of residency without meeting Green List criteria
• Recruitment agencies charging excessive fees (check licensed advisers)

Another wrinkle. The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) residence pathway remains suspended for new Expressions of Interest, with the government directing workers through employer-sponsored routes — creating uncertainty for those wanting residency without Green List jobs.

Partner and family considerations:

• AEWV holders’ partners receive open work visas
• Dependent children can attend school (fees may apply at secondary level)
• Partners of Green List workers may access publicly funded healthcare immediately
• Family reunification requires separate visa applications, income thresholds

What’s unclear:

• When (or if) SMC will reopen to new applications
• Whether wage thresholds will continue rising faster than inflation
• How sector agreements will evolve in construction, healthcare
• If government changes post-2026 election will shift immigration policy

Success stories:

• Priya, India → Auckland (Registered Nurse): Straight to Residence visa, family joined after 4 months, earning NZD $72,000, permanent residency approved in 6 months
• James, UK → Christchurch (Civil Engineer): AEWV approved in 5 weeks, bought home after 2 years, now managing earthquake strengthening projects
• Lin, China → Wellington (Software Developer): Tech sector boom, NZD $95,000 salary, Work to Residence pathway, citizenship application pending

The big picture. New Zealand’s population of 5.1 million and remote location create both opportunities (less competition than Australia, Canada) and challenges (smaller job market, distance from family) — but the country’s natural beauty, work-life balance, and clear immigration pathways attract 60,000+ new migrants annually despite stricter rules.

Bottom line. Accredited employer status is your verification tool — if a company isn’t on Immigration New Zealand’s accredited employer list, they cannot legally hire you as a migrant worker, making this database essential for avoiding scams and focusing on legitimate opportunities.

Access verification: Check employer accreditation status at immigration.govt.nz using the official register — accreditation can be withdrawn for non-compliance, so always verify current status before accepting job offers or relocating.