If working or studying is part of your plan, you're better off obtaining the relevant visa before entering the country. You can apply for a short-term work or study permit after you have entered New Zealand, but if it is granted, it will only cover the time left on your visitor permit.

British, Canadian and Japanese citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 may be able to obtain a Working Holiday Visa . This entitles you to undertake short-term work as you travel around the country for up to twelve months. Only two thousand such permits are granted each year, beginning in July, and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early.

A long-term work permit must be obtained before you enter New Zealand and will be granted only if you have a confirmed job offer and no New Zealand citizen is suitable and available for the post. These permits stipulate the type of employment in which you can engage and are normally valid for up to three years.

You can study for up to three months on a visitor permit, but to study longer you will need to obtain a study permit before you enter the country. For further information on the various permits and visas available, consult the Visiting New Zealand leaflet, which is stocked by all New Zealand embassies and consulates .