There is a shortage of skilled hospitality staff which makes it relatively easy for waiters/waitresses to move around within the industry once they have experience.

Casual and part-time employment opportunities increase during busy holiday periods.

Demand for waiters/waitresses is high because of:

• significant industry growth – 4,000 new hospitality businesses were created between 2001 and 2006
• an increase in international and domestic tourism
• a strong economy providing New Zealanders with more disposable income.

To cater for the growing tourist numbers, New Zealand's Tourism Strategy projects that the hospitality and tourism industries will require an extra 100,000 employees by 2010.

In addition to these issues, turnover is high because: 

• waiter/waitress roles are generally regarded as short-term jobs rather than long-term career choices
• waiters/waitresses are in demand so they can switch between rival organisations to gain higher wages
• many roles are staffed by students or, in tourist areas, by travellers who are in the region temporarily.

Waiters/waitresses work in a range of eateries, including:

• small restaurants, grills and bistros
• cafés
• bars and pubs
• motels and hotels
• private catering companies.

Most vacancies are advertised through the Internet or newspapers.  However, there are also a number of recruitment agencies that solely specialise in hospitality careers in New Zealand. 

You can find work as a waiter/waitress throughout New Zealand, but most work is available in the larger population areas or tourist destinations, such as:

• Auckland
• Wellington
• Canterbury
• Otago.

Find out more

Career Services website

• Hospitality industry information

Other websites

• Hospitality Standards Institute website – report on skills, training and labour in the hospitality industry (PDF – 530KB)