New Zealand CVs run longer than American resumes and lean heavily on referees — Kiwi employers phone them, and often early in the process. For overseas applicants two things decide whether you get a call: whether your visa status is clear, and whether you have a New Zealand referee who can vouch for how you work.
New Zealand CV rules at a glance
Name: CV is the standard term
Length: Two to three pages
Photo: No
Personal details: No date of birth or marital status. State visa or residency status clearly
Date format: DD/MM/YYYY or Month YYYY
Spelling: New Zealand English — organise, centre, specialise
References: Two named referees with contact details; NZ employers genuinely call them
Paper size: A4
What to include, in order
Personal details, including work visa or residency status
Personal statement
Key skills
Employment history
Education and training
Referees — two, named, with permission
Mistakes that cost people interviews in New Zealand
Omitting visa status as an overseas applicant — New Zealand employers screen for it before anything else.
Offering only overseas referees when a single New Zealand referee, even from volunteer or short-term work, carries disproportionate weight.
Sending a one-page US-style resume, which reads as insubstantial to an NZ reviewer.
Overlooking cultural fit language; NZ employers weigh teamwork and approachability more explicitly than many markets.
Listing referees without asking them first, which is treated as a genuine breach of etiquette.
New Zealand CV questions
How long should a New Zealand CV be?
Two to three pages. New Zealand employers expect enough context to understand your work, and a compressed one-page resume tends to read as though you have little to describe.
Do I need New Zealand referees?
They help more than almost anything else you can add. NZ employers call referees and place real weight on someone local who can speak to how you work. If you are new to the country, a referee from volunteer work, contracting or a short placement is worth pursuing early.
Should I mention my visa status on an NZ CV?
Yes, plainly, near your contact details. 'NZ Resident' or 'Working Holiday Visa — valid to March 2027' answers the first question every New Zealand recruiter has and stops your application being set aside as too uncertain to pursue.