Wish to start all over again in your dream? Think of being a painter in New Zealand with its fantastic mountains, beaches and colorful cities. The up side? New Zealand requires qualified painters immediately. In 2025, a good number of employers are prepared to sponsor visas of skilled painters in the global market.
Why New Zealand Needs Painters
New Zealand is developing rapidly. New residential homes, office buildings and infrastructure works sprout all over. The tourism is also booming. There are hotels, restaurants and shops that require continuous maintenance.
This generates huge demand of painting specialists. New Zealand (Kiwi) employers are unable to get sufficient local talent. That is why they go abroad. To occupy these key positions, they provide visa sponsorship. Here is your opportunity to pursue a gratifying career in a lovely friendly country.
What Visa Sponsorship Really Means for Painters
Visa sponsorship New Zealand employer offers formal backing to your work visa. They demonstrate that they are unable to find a local worker to do the job. To you it is a legal channel to work and live in NZ.
The primary sponsored painter visa is the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The 2025 process is like this:
- Obtain a Job: Get a job offer with an employer in NZ who is accredited with the Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
- Employer Applies: Your employer makes an application of a Job Check to ensure the position qualifies under sponsorship requirements.
- You Apply: APPROVED YOU apply to the AEWV. You’ll need:
- An official job offer.
- Evidence of your ability to paint and experience (qualifications will assist!).
- A health examination.
- Police clearance certificates.
- Pass health and character requirements.
- Work and live in NZ: Visa Granted! Plenty of visas are job specific but can result in residency.
Skills Requirements
You must have skills to secure a sponsored job. Employers seek:
- Experience: Painting work experience is required. Record your job years.
- Core Skills: Sanding and filling, brushing, rolling and spraying paint, mixing colours, hanging wallpaper, safe use of tools.
- Physical Fitness: Painting is not inactive! You should have endurance to lift, bend and work on heights.
- Dependability & Professional Ethic: Showing up on time, hustling, completing assignments in a quality manner.
- Safety First: Familiarity with the safe use of ladders, scaffold and chemicals is not optional. A formal qualification (such as an NZQA Level 4 Certificate in Painting and Decorating or ivalent) is a massive bonus to sponsorship. Working at Heights or Asbestos Awareness training is useful.
Painter Salaries in New Zealand
Your pay depends on your experience, location, and specialty. Here’s a clear overview:
| Painter Role | Average Hourly Rate (NZD) | Estimated Yearly Salary (NZD)* |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Painter | $25 – $35 | $52,000 – $73,000 |
| Commercial Painter | $28 – $38 | $58,000 – $79,000 |
| Industrial Painter | $32 – $45+ | $67,000 – $94,000+ |
| Automotive Painter | $27 – $40 | $56,000 – $83,000 |
| Painter & Decorator | $26 – $37 | $54,000 – $77,000 |
| Painting Supervisor | $35 – $50+ | $73,000 – $104,000+ |
Note: Yearly salaries assume full-time work (around 40 hours/week). Overtime and bonuses can increase earnings. Industrial and Supervisor roles often command the highest pay. Wages are generally higher in major cities like Auckland and Wellington.
Life as a Painter in New Zealand
It is a large part of the adventure to live in NZ:
- Cost of Living: Be ready. Accommodation, particularly in Auckland/Wellington may be costly. Food and gas are also expensive. But this is reflected in wages. The most important thing is budgeting. Lower costs are available in the regional areas.
- Kiwis are Friendly: New Zealanders (“Kiwis”) are a friendly bunch of people and are open and welcoming.
- Outdoor Paradise: Hiking, surfing, skiing, fishing – adventure is easy to find.
- Laid Back Culture: experience a less hectic lifestyle relative to most large nations.