A New Zealand CV is usually two to three pages: contact details, a short personal statement, key skills, work history with achievements, education and referees. Leave off your photo, date of birth and marital status. State your work rights, such as citizen, resident or visa type, because employers need to know you can work in New Zealand.
These are common practices, not legal rules, and employers differ. Every example is fictional; replace each [bracketed] detail with your own, and follow the job posting when it asks for something specific.
What a New Zealand CV includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Name, phone, email, city; no photo, age or marital status |
| Work rights | NZ citizen, resident, or visa type and expiry |
| Personal statement | Three or four lines about who you are and the role you want |
| Key skills | Four to six skills from the job ad, each with a short example |
| Work history | Newest first, with duties and one or two achievements per role |
| Education and training | Qualifications, institution and year; NZQA-recognised where relevant |
| Referees | Two referees, usually recent managers, with permission |
Work rights and overseas experience
If you are not a citizen or resident, state your visa type and when it expires near the top. For overseas jobs, add the country and a short line explaining the organisation if it is not well known in New Zealand.
New Zealand CV template (fictional)
[Your Name] · [Phone] · [Email] · [City, NZ]
Work rights: [NZ resident / work visa valid until Month Year]
PERSONAL STATEMENT: [Role] with [number] years in [field]. [One piece of evidence]. Looking for a [role] position in [city or region].
KEY SKILLS: [Skill from ad] — [short example] · [Skill] — [example]
WORK HISTORY: [Job title], [Employer], [City, Country] — [Month Year]–[Month Year]
• [Duty or achievement with a result].
EDUCATION: [Qualification], [Institution], [Year]
REFEREES: [Name], [Position], [Organisation], [Phone] — or available on request
- How long should a CV be in New Zealand?
- Two to three pages is normal. Keep recent and relevant roles detailed and summarise older ones.
- Should I put a photo on a New Zealand CV?
- No. It is not expected, and personal details such as age and marital status are best left off.
- Do I need to list referees?
- Most New Zealand CVs list two referees or say they are available on request. Ask them first.
Compare with the Australian resume format and other countries in the CV format by country guide.
