hotjar

Watch videos about 200+ jobs in the new <a href="https://tahatu.govt.nz/video-library/">video library</a>.

Discover more about yourself and get career ideas.

Get inspired

Kia whakaohooho

Discovering who you are

Te tūhura haere i a koe anō

Understand what to do at school now to get the future you want.

School and NCEA

Kura

Moving on from school

Te panuku atu i te kura

Doing NCEA

Te mahi NCEA

Find out if study and training can take you towards your career goals.

Study and training

Doing study or training

Te mahi ako, te mahi whakangungu rānei

Paying for study and training

Te utu i ngā mahi ako me te whakangungu

Getting qualifications

Te whiwhi tohu

Finding and applying for scholarships

Te rapu me te tono mō ngā karahipi

Study and training providers

Te ako me ngā kaiwhakarato whakangungu

Discover career ideas and tips for getting or changing a job.

Work

Mahi

Looking for a job

E rapu mahi ana

Applying for a job

Te tono mahi

Working in Aotearoa

Te mahi i Aotearoa

Doing an interview

I roto i te uiui

Starting and leaving a job

Te tīmata me te wehe i tētahi tūnga mahi

Plan ahead to make your career goals happen.

Plan your future

Whakamahere ā mua

Making a career decision

Te whakatau i tō aramahi

Acting on your career decision

Te whakatinana i tō whakatau aramahi

Watch career idea videos and find out what it’s like to work in 200+ jobs.

Ngā ataata toi me te hoahoa

Actress, performer, performing arts practitioner, stunt actor

Actors play roles in movies, television, audio and live theatrical performances.

You usually need to do training to become an actor and a qualification may be useful.

Visual and performing arts jobs involve creating fine art and crafts like paintings, sculptures and ceramics, dancing and choreography, making and performing music, and acting or assisting with theatrical plays.

Actor

Kiriwhakaari

Actors

Ballet dancer, contemporary dancer, performer, ballroom dancer, commercial dancer, jazz dancer, hip hop dancer

Dancers perform choreographed routines to music using body movements to express ideas and emotions. They may perform in dance recitals, theatre productions, gigs, television shows and films.

You need experience to become a dancer and a qualification may be useful.

Dancer

Kaikanikani

Dancers

Clothing designer, costume designer, textile designer, apparel designer, garment technician, fashion stylist, textile product designer

Fashion designers design clothing, accessories and shoes. They may design one-off pieces or work in teams to design a range of mass-produced items or seasonal collections.

You usually need a qualification and experience to become a fashion designer.

Design jobs involve creating the look of websites and video games, designing new products, equipment and facilities, researching customer experiences, planning and decorating interior spaces and creating new clothing.

Fashion designer

Kaihoahoa pūeru

Fashion designers

Artist, sculptor, printmaker, painter, digital artist, contemporary artist, performance artist

Fine artists create original artwork using a variety of media and techniques.

You need experience to become a fine artist and a qualification may be useful.

Fine artist

Ringatoi auaha

Fine artists

Florists cut and arrange flowers and other plants for customers and clients. They may also grow and order flowers and run their own business.

You usually learn on the job to become a florist and a qualification may be useful.

Growing, gardening and forestry jobs involve growing, harvesting and selling plants, fruit, vegetables and trees. This includes creating and maintaining gardens, parks and sportsgrounds, and managing pests and weeds.

Florist

Kaihoko putiputi

Florists

Graphic artist, digital designer, mac operator, visual communication designer

Graphic designers create artwork, graphics and layouts for printed or electronic media.

You usually need a qualification to become a graphic designer and experience may be useful.

Graphic designer

Kaihoahoa whakairoiro

Graphic designers

Hair stylist, men's hairdresser, women's hairdresser, assistant hairdresser, hair colour technician, hair braider, hair cutter

Hairdressers cut, style and colour hair, and barbers shave and trim hair, moustaches and beards.

You usually learn on the job to become a hairdresser or barber and a qualification may be useful.

Hair and beauty jobs involve providing beauty and personal care services like haircuts and massages.

Hairdresser and barber

Kaikuti makawe

Hairdressers and barbers

Interior stylist, commercial interior designer, residential interior designer, interior architect, design consultant, retail interior designer, kitchen designer

Interior designers work with clients to plan, design, decorate and furnish rooms and building interiors.

You usually need experience to become an interior designer and a qualification may be useful.

Interior designer

Kaihoahoa rō whare

Interior designers

Theatrical make-up artist, special effects make-up artist, make-up consultant, prosthetics specialist

Make-up artists apply make-up to change or enhance the way people look. They may work in fashion, film, theatre or personal services.

You usually need experience to become a make-up artist and a qualification may be useful.

Make-up artist

Ringatoi whakapaipai

Make-up artists

Māori carvers use Māori symbols and patterns to carve cultural stories, genealogy and other ideas onto materials like wood, stone and bone.

Ka whakamahi ngā kaiwhakairo Māori i ngā tohu me ngā tauira Māori hei whakairo i ngā kōrero ahurea, te whakapapa me ētahi atu ariā ki runga i ngā rawa pēnei i te rākau, te kōhatu me te wheua.

You need experience to become a Māori carver and a qualification may be useful.

Me whai wheako koe hei mahi hei kaiwhakairo Māori, ā, ka whaihua pea tētahi tohu.

Whakairo (carving) is a form of Māori art based in cultural and spiritual traditions. The origins of whakairo guide the tikanga (protocols), materials and practices a carver uses to produce an artwork. 

Māori carvers may create artwork themselves or be asked by people to produce carvings that are artistic and have cultural and spiritual significance.  

Māori carvers use a range of traditional and contemporary tools and methods to create their artwork. Carvings can range from small personal objects like taonga (jewellery) and kōauau (flutes) to large structures like wharenui (meeting houses) and waka (canoes).  

Iwi-specific designs like koru, hāmokorau, manaia and tuere may be used in the carving artwork. 

Māori carvers may work on their own or in a group with other carvers under the guidance of a tohunga kaiwhakairo (master carver). 

Māori carvers may take part in marae restorations, iwi projects in taonga production and exhibitions. They may also advise organisations about architectural and interior designs.

He kātū toi Māori te whakairo, ā, kei ngā tuku ihotanga ā-ahurea, ā-wairua tōna pūtake. Ka arahina ngā tikanga, ngā rawa me ngā ritenga e whakamahi ana te kaiwhakairo Māori ki te hanga i te mahi toi e ngā takenga o tēnei mea te whakairo. 

Mā te kaiwhakairo Māori anō tētahi mahi toi e waihanga, ka tonoa rānei ia e te tangata ki te waihanga whakairo e rerehua ana, kua whai hira ā-ahurea, ā-wairua hoki.  

Whakamahi ai te kaiwhakairo Māori i te whānuitanga o ngā taputapu me ngā tikanga o nehe, o nāianei hoki ki te waihanga i ana mahi toi. Ko te whānuitanga o ngā momo whakairo mai i ngā taonga whakapaipai me ngā kōauau ki ngā hanga rahi pērā i te wharenui me te waka.  

Ka whakamahia pea ngā hoahoa nō ētahi iwi ake pērā i te koru, te hāmokorau, te manaia me te tuere i ngā mahi whakairo. 

Ka mahi takitahi ngā kaiwhakairo Māori, ka whakamahi ā-rōpū rānei ki ētahi atu kaiwhakairo i raro i te ārahi a tētahi tohunga whakairo. 

Ka whai wāhi pea ngā kaiwhakairo Māori ki ngā mahi whakaora marae, ngā kaupapa ā-iwi whakaputa taonga, me ngā whakaaturanga. Ka hoatu tohutohu pea ki ngā whakahaere mō ngā hoahoa hanga whare, mō roto i ngā whare anō hoki.

Architecture and construction management jobs involve planning and designing buildings and landscapes, and managing construction activities.

Craft making jobs involve producing and repairing furniture, jewellery, pottery and other objects.

Culture and history jobs involve studying world cultures and historical objects, and providing services for archives, museums, libraries and galleries.

Māori carver

Kaiwhakairo Māori

Māori carvers

Ko tā te kaiwhakairo Māori

Musical instrument repairers and tuners repair and tune brass, percussion, string and woodwind instruments. They may specialise in one instrument, like piano tuning and repairs.

You learn on the job to become a musical instrument repairer or tuner.

Musical instrument repairer and tuner

Kaiwhakatika taonga puoro

Musical instrument repairers and tuners

Musicians play music or sing for live audiences and in recording studios. They may also write, arrange and conduct music.

You need experience to become a musician and a qualification may be useful.

Musician

Ringapuoro

Musicians

Photojournalist, wedding photographer, fashion photographer, commercial photographer, news photographer, sports photographer, aerial photographer

Photographers use cameras to take photos of people, places and things, then edit and process them to create high quality images.

You usually learn on the job to become a photographer and experience and a qualification may be useful.

Photographer

Kaihopu whakaahua

Photographers

Sign installer, sign maker and installer, signwriter

Signmakers design, print and install signs using a range of materials for both indoor and outdoor use.

You usually need experience to become a signmaker and a qualification may be useful.

Signmaker

Kaihanga tohu

Signmakers

Custom sewer, sewing machinst, seamstress, garment technician

Tailors and dressmakers design, make, alter and repair clothing.

You usually need experience to become a tailor or dressmaker and a qualification may be useful.

Clothing, footwear and fabrics jobs involve preparing fabrics and making clothes, shoes and furniture coverings.

Tailor and dressmaker

Kaihoahoa, kaituitui kākahu

Tailors and dressmakers

Moko artist, Māori tattoo artist, Māori tattooist

Ringatoi tāmoko, tōhunga tāmoko Māori, tōhunga moko, kaitāmoko Māori

Tāmoko artists use traditional and modern tools and methods to apply Māori symbols and patterns onto people’s skin to represent their ancestry and personal journey.

Kei te whakamahi ngā ringatoi tāmoko i ngā taputapu, i ngā tikanga taketake me te hou ki te tā tauira ki te kiri o te tangata tērā ka tohu i tōna kāwai me tōna anō haerenga i tōna ao.

You need experience to become a tāmoko artist and a qualification may be useful.

Me whai wheako hei mahi hei ringatoi tāmoko, ā, ka whaihua pea tētahi tohu.

Tāmoko is a traditional Māori artform that connects the artist and their kaiwhiwhi (recipient) to their whakapapa (ancestors) and the spiritual world. Tāmoko artists perform karakia when moko is done to ensure spiritual and cultural safety throughout the process.  

The tāmoko process has evolved from using traditional tools like uhi (chisels) to modern machines and needles. The unique designs and symbols used come from both ancestors and natural ecosystems.  

Tāmoko artists need to understand the life story and whakapapa of the recipient to create moko using symbols from their iwi.  

Certain moko designs are passed down through generations. Only Māori can receive moko on parts of the body that are tapu (sacred) like the head and lower body. These moko are known as pūhoro or peha (lower body, thigh region), pūkonohi (facial moko on men) and pūkauae (chin moko on women). 

Moko-inspired designs that are applied onto other parts of the body and onto non-Māori are known as kirituhi. 

Tāmoko artists may take part in mokopapa and exhibitions and advise people about using the artform.

He kātū toi taketake te tāmoko e tūhono ana i te ringatoi me tōna kaiwhiwhi ki tōna whakapapa (ōna tūpuna) me te ao wairua. Ka tuku karakia pea te ringatoi tāmoko i tana tā i te tāmoko hei whakarite i te haumaru ā-wairua, ā-ahurea anō hoki puta noa i te tukanga.  

Kua hurihia te tukanga tāmoko i te whakamahi i ngā taputapu taketake pēnei i te uhi ki te whakamahi kē i ngā pūrere me ngā ngira o te wā nei. Nō ngā tūpuna me ngā pūnaha hauropi o te taiao ngā hoahoa me ngā tohu ahurei e whakamahia ana.  

Me āta mārama te ringatoi tāmoko ki te kōrero ora me te whakapapa o te kaiwhiwhi e taea ai te tā te moko mā te whakamahi i ngā tohu nō ngā iwi o te kaiwhiwhi.  

Tukuna ihotia ai ētahi hoahoa moko mai i tētahi whakatupuranga ki tētahi. E whakaaetia ana kia tāmokotia anake te Māori ki ngā wāhanga tapu o te tinana, pērā i te upoko, te remu me te kūhā. E kīia ana ēnei moko ko te pūhoro, peha rānei  (te remu, te kūhā), te pūkonohi (te moko i runga i te kanohi o te tāne) me te pūkauae (i runga i te kauae o te wahine). 

E kīia ana he kirituhi ngā hoahoa i ētahi atu wāhanga o te tinana he mea whakahihiri e te tāmoko. 

Tērā pea ka whai wāhi ngā ringatoi tāmoko ki ngā mokopapa me ngā whakakitenga me te tohutohu i ngā tangata mō te whakamahi i tēnei kātū toi.

Tāmoko artist

Ringatoi tāmoko

Tāmoko artists

Ko tā te ringatoi tāmoko

Tattooist, permanent make-up artist, body artist, tā moko artist, medical tattoo artist, cosmetic tattoo artist

Tattoo artists use sterilised skin-piercing equipment and ink or jewellery to decorate people’s skin.

You usually need experience to become a tattoo artist and training may be useful.

Tattoo artist

Ringa kirituhi

Tattoo artists

Kapa haka teacher, kapa haka tutor, te ao haka expert, Māori performing arts director, performance producer, te ao haka practitioner

Kaiwhakaako kapa haka, kaiako kapa haka, pūkenga ao haka, ringatohu o ngā mahi a te rēhia, ringatohu whakaatu

Te ao haka specialists use kapa haka to engage people in Māori culture, language and traditional practices.

Kei te whakamahia te kapa haka e te mātanga ao haka ki te whakatenatena i tō te tangata whai wāhi ki te ahurea Māori, te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori.

You need experience to become a te ao haka specialist and a qualification may be useful.

Me whai wheako koe hei mahi hei mātanga ao haka, ā, ka whaihua pea tētahi tohu.

Te ao haka (kapa haka) is a unique Māori performance artform based on demonstrating Māori culture, language and identity by communicating issues important to Māori, sharing cultural history and ancestry, and preserving those stories for future generations. 

Te ao haka specialists teach specific techniques to effectively communicate performance content. They may use a mixture of traditional iwi variations and performance styles with contemporary ideas to create the performance.  

Performances may consist of waiata ā-ringa (action songs), poi and mōteatea (chanting).  

Te ao haka specialists may lead performance elements themselves or work with others to produce the creative vision.  

Te ao haka specialists may take part in whakangahau and competitive performances on a marae or at a national or international event. 

Te ao haka specialists use kapa haka to run cultural leadership workshops, and lead wellbeing and educational programmes.

He kātū toi whakaata ahurei te ao kapa haka ko tōna pūtake ko te whakaatu i te ahurea Māori, te reo me te tuakiri Māori mā te whakawhitiwhiti i ngā take e hira ana ki te Māori, me te tiritiri i te hītori me ngā kāwai heke, me te tohu i aua kōrero mō ngā reanga e heke mai ana.  

Kei te whakaako te mātanga ao haka i ētahi tikanga tauwhāiti mō te whakaatu i ngā mahi a te rēhia i runga i te tōtika. Ka whakamahi pea rātou i te ranunga o ngā taurangitanga me ngā tātaitanga whakaatu me ngā whakaaro o nāianei hei hanga i te whakaaturanga.  

Whai wāhi ai pea ki ngā whakaaturanga ngā waiata-ā-ringa, ngā poi me te mōteatea.  

Mā te mātanga ao haka anō pea ētahi wāhanga o te whakaaturanga e whakataki, e mahi tahi rānei ki ētahi atu ki te whakatinana i te hua o tana wairua auaha.  

Ka whai wāhi pea te mātanga ao haka ki ngā whakangahau me ngā whakaaturanga whakataetae i tētahi marae, i tētahi taiopenga ā-motu, ā-ao rānei. 

Whakamahi ai te mātanga ao haka i te kapa haka ki te whakahaere awheawhe hautūtanga, me te ārahi i ngā hōtaka toiora me te mātauranga.

Te ao haka specialist

Mātanga ao haka

Te ao haka specialists

Ko tā te mātanga ao haka

Game creator, gaming designer, gaming developer, game designer, level designer, game artist, game animator

Video game designers plan and create the look, stories, characters and rules of electronic games for computers, mobiles and gaming consoles.

You need experience to become a video game designer and a qualification may be useful.

Video game designer

Kaiwhakawhanake kēmu ataata

Video game designers

Māori fibre artist, Māori textile artist

Weavers use traditional weaving techniques and traditional and modern tools and materials to design and create artwork and taonga to represent cultural stories, genealogy and other ideas.

Kei te whakamahi te kairaranga i ngā tikanga raranga tuku iho me ngā utauta me ngā rauemi taketake me te hou ki te hoahoa me te hanga mahi toi me ngā taonga e tohu ana i ngā kōrero ahurea, te whakapapa me ētahi atu ariā.

You need experience to become a weaver and a qualification may be useful.

Me whai wheako koe hei mahi hei kairaranga, ā, ka whaihua pea tētahi tohu.

Māori weaving plays an important role in expressing and preserving Māori cultural identity. It has a deep spiritual connection to the past through whakapapa to ancestors and to the natural environment.  

Weavers use natural materials from the environment like harakeke (New Zealand flax), kiekie, pīngao (golden sand sedge), native feathers and animal skins to create their artwork.  

Modern tools and materials like fabric dyes, chicken feathers, and cotton are used to create contemporary kākahu (clothing) and artwork. 

Weavers use methods like raranga (plaiting), whatu (finger twining weaving), tāniko (weaving of geometric patterns) and whiri (braiding) to create items.  

Examples of weaving include tukutuku (ornamental latticework) and whāriki (woven mats) in a marae, waha kura (woven bassinet), korowai (Māori cloaks), kete whakairo (woven patterned bag) and piupiu (flax garment for kapa haka). 

The unique designs and patterns like roimata toroa (albatross tears), poutama (stairway) and pātiki (flounder) are handed down through generations and can be used to identify certain iwi. 

Weavers may take part in exhibitions, architectural designs and marae restoration projects.

He tūnga hira tō te raranga Māori i te whakapuaki me te tohu i te tuakiri ahurea o te Māori. He kaha tōna tūhono ā-wairua ki ngā wā o mua mā te whakapapa, ki te taiao tūturu anō hoki. 

Whakamahi ai te kairaranga i ngā rawa o te taiao pērā i te harakeke, te kiekie, te pīngao, ngā huruhuru i ngā manu māori me ngā kiri kararehe ki te hanga i ana mahi toi.  

Whakamahia ai ngā utauta o ēnei rā me ngā rawa pēnei i ngā waituhi papanga, ngā huruhuru heihei me te papahune ki te hanga kākahu me ngā mahi toi o nāianei. 

Ka whakamahi te kairaranga i ngā tikanga pēnei i te raranga, te whatu, te tāniko me te whiri ki te hanga taonga.  

Ko ētahi o ngā momo raranga ko te tukutuku me te whāriki mā te marae, te wahakura, te korowai, te kete whakairo me ngā piupiu. 

He mea tuku iho e tētahi whakatupuranga ki tētahi ngā hoahoa me ngā tauira ahurei pēnei i ngā roimata toroa me te pātiki, me te aha ka whakamahia pea hei tautuhi i ētahi iwi. 

Tērā pea ka whai wāhi te kairaranga ki ngā whakakitenga, ngā hoahoa hanga whare me ngā kaupapa whakaora marae.

Education jobs involve teaching and supporting students at schools, universities, vocational education providers and other education facilities. This includes developing courses and caring for children.

Weaver

Kairaranga

Weavers

Ko tā te kairaranga

User experience designer, user interface designer, UX/UI designer, product service designer, website designer, digital designer

Web designers design the way websites and software applications look and work, based on what users need.

You usually need experience to become a web designer and a qualification may be useful.

Arts and design videos,
Ngā ataata toi me te hoahoa

Career ideas in this playlist,
Ngā whakaaro aramahi kei roto i tēnei rārangipurei

Actor

Kiriwhakaari

Dancer

Kaikanikani

Fashion designer

Kaihoahoa pūeru

Fine artist

Ringatoi auaha

Florist

Kaihoko putiputi

Graphic designer

Kaihoahoa whakairoiro

Hairdresser and barber

Kaikuti makawe

Interior designer

Kaihoahoa rō whare

Make-up artist

Ringatoi whakapaipai

Kaiwhakairo Māori

Māori carver

Other playlists,
Ētahi atu rārangipurei

Building and construction,
Hanganui me te hanga whare

Business and finance,
Pakihi me te ahumoni

Education and community,
Mātauranga me te hapori

Explore video library,
Torotoro puna ataata

Dancer

Kaikanikani

Fashion designer

Kaihoahoa pūeru

Fine artist

Ringatoi auaha

Florist

Kaihoko putiputi

Graphic designer

Kaihoahoa whakairoiro

Hairdresser and barber

Kaikuti makawe

Interior designer

Kaihoahoa rō whare

Make-up artist

Ringatoi whakapaipai

Kaiwhakairo Māori

Māori carver

Other playlists, Ētahi atu rārangipurei

Business and finance, Pakihi me te ahumoni

Education and community, Mātauranga me te hapori

Other playlists,
Ētahi atu rārangipurei

Business and finance,
Pakihi me te ahumoni

Education and community,
Mātauranga me te hapori