Program Reviews

I bought IEP through the UK BUNAC program and from the get go it was dodgy. The person that talk to me never been to New Zealand at all as she though Auckland was its capital but I went for it as I was super stressed. Have I known this website I would have go with any other company than IEP or Bunac on this list!

The people that ''Welcomed'' in Auckland were other working holiday makers that only stayed in Auckland, their knowledge of New Zealand was of Auckland and the few bus tour companies that gave them free tours around. Pretty much it. Their travel info was a joke as the person giving it was actually working for a bus company!!! Job wise the support was almost non existent aside from ''use trademe and do some wwoofing'' The hostel was crowded, unpersonnal and very cheap, to the point that I checked out before my due date to go somewhere better.

It was a clear waste of money, please people, avoid at all cost, for your own good!

IEP set my mind at ease. Coming from the US where the information on working holidays and backpacking is practically non existent, the staff took all the things I was stressing about (Bank Accounts, Tax Numbers, accommodation, work) and made it easy. Any question I had, they had an answer, and if they didn't, they found one. I didn't spend much time in Auckland, where the office is based, but with their Facebook page and online site, I still had access to help if I needed it.

And its not just the staff that has great advice, the other members are great about sharing experiences. Where to stay, what to do, what not to do. Its an instant community of fellow travelers and its great!

The number one thing I love about IEP, is that they are full of advice and help, but they don't take away the experience by holding your hand too much. They encourage you to go out and have the best adventure you can have, and they will be there if you need them.

As a late comer to work/travel abroad, it was difficult finding a program that would accept someone over 30. IEP Work New Zealand fit the bill, and provided all of the necessary support for the newly arrived, sleep-deprived traveler.

They had transport and the first few nights accommodation pre-booked so we didn't have to worry about finding our way right off the plane which was brilliant.

The office is directly across from the arranged hostel, so it was easy to get to and centrally located in Auckland. An orientation session during the first couple days sets you up with heaps of info and they assist in getting all your tax info and bank account setup right away.

So that's the basic stuff. But here's the really useful stuff. The staff are great and do everything they can to help you out. Anything from travel tips, car insurance, social nights at the pub, baggage storage, advice on job hunting, tips on attractions, getting off the beaten track, you name it! Their insider knowledge and willingness to help you out can be a blessing in an unfamiliar place, and really makes you feel welcome and confident that you have someone watching your back.

One of their marketing staff told me about a video contest, and I ended up winning first place which gave my bank account a real boost when I was traveling.

I got to know several of the staff personally, and even now wouldn't hesitate to phone them up with a question or meet up for a drink.

I often say it's all about people when you're traveling. IEP and New Zealand is full of great people, and the experiences we had over the year program shaped us permanently.

I still haven't left New Zealand, and I'm now a permanent resident together with my partner whom I met during the program.

The beauty of New Zealand has to be experienced, and IEP Work New Zealand is a great way to do it.

Highly recommended.

From start to finish, IEP was invaluable in making my working holiday experience a success. I felt fully prepared with my pre-trip and arrival information, and then the 3-hour orientation on my first day in Auckland was super helpful. By the end of the day I had applied for my IRD number, opened a bank account, signed up for a free city tour of Auckland, and met heaps of other like-minded travelers at a burger & movie night. The support didn't stop there, I ended up booking my NZ travel pass with the help of IEP, and when it came time for me to find a job the staff went above and beyond to edit my CV and guide me through the recruitment process. Have I mentioned the free wifi and printing in the office?! Amazing. I also took advantage of the luggage storage, mail forwarding service and social gatherings. The staff are all-around great people who genuinely want you to have the best possible NZ experience. I can't say thank you enough!

What can I say?!! This program helped my friend and me soooo much when moving to NZ. We knew nothing about NZ when we arrived and knew no one. The staff here were great with advice, local information and traveling info and always had a smile on their face! It was great to have a support system when you are so far from home and we knew we could always count on them. Easy access to email which was very important when communicating with so many people back home. IEP made the transition to coming and working in NZ so much less stressful and easy which is very important when you are so far from home. Great networking as well with other overseas people which was cool.
Would and have recommended to many friends... Two thumbs up! I'd give it three if I had three thumbs!:)

IEP have been great to me. When I first arrived, they were very friendly and provided a great orientation presentation for me which helped me to feel settled down. They also helped me a lot by using their contacts to get me two jobs, one of which at the Sky Tower in Auckland which was a great job and a lot of fun and then another at The Hermitage hotel over in Mount Cook which I'm just about to start soon.

Overall I've been extremely happy at the service they've provided to me and with their help and support, they've made this trip fantastic for me.

IEP New Zealand made my working holiday to NZ easy and amazing from the day I got my visa. There pre departure support- welcoming me to the program and encouraging questions and contact from the start was a great way to kick of my year in NZ.

Knowing that you have a place to stay (they put you up in a hostel your first nights) and a place to go for job search, find out about travel and book it, the nitty gritty of bank accounts and tax IRD numbers- sorted!

Staff is incredibly friendly, go out of their way to make you feel at home and help you with your journey. No matter that their office is based in Auckland- they are an email or phone call away, and often have contacts (for jobs and support) throughout the country. They really listened to who I was and helped me find a job that would suit me! They host social events to help travelers connect upon arrival. Pubmeet, movie nights, concerts etc.

It truly was the best year of my life!

I had a great time in NZ and IEP helped a lot in the initial stages to make it so much easier for me. They helped with my bank account, finding a place to live and some really good job hunt ideas. Auckland is a great city!

Jumping off the looong plane ride and knowing that I had somewhere to go (the IEP office in Auckland) if I needed help or support was a super nice feeling.

Getting help with tax numbers, bank accounts, etc was very useful as I probably would have had no idea what I was doing!

The staff are all friendly and helpful and if they don't know the answer then they do all they can to find it out for you.

Getting a job in a new country is pretty daunting - but at the end of the day it's the same anywhere you go. The more you put yourself out there then the more chance you have of finding a job. I started work at a Laser-Strike place in Auckland after about a month and it turned out to be super awesome - getting to play Laser-Strike whenever I wanted!

Make sure you travel though and don't spend all your time in Auckland! IEP has loads of ideas on where to go and how to go there.

My highlight in New Zealand was probably getting to see the All Blacks play and see the Haka live - definitely something everyone should try and experience if you come here!

The inbound center is awesome.. FREE Wifi and heaps of job listings! Met lots of people through the social events and had a job within 2 weeks. The travel advice and discounts were also great! Go to NZ