How to find an Internship at University
- Sep 20, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
An internship in New Zealand is a structured, short-term work experience that allows tertiary students and recent graduates to gain hands-on training, build industry networks, and apply academic knowledge in a professional environment.
Here's how to find an internship in New Zealand.
How They Work
Duration: Most internships run for 8 to 12 weeks, commonly taking place over the summer holidays (November through February). However, semester-long placements and off-cycle or winter internships are also available.
Types: You can find placements in the corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. They are especially popular in fields like engineering, accounting, environmental science, and business.
Placement Sources: Universities often assist in coordinating placements, or you can find them through specialized placement agencies and job boards.
If you find the right internship for your skills and interests, then it is a great way to gain work experience, for a short period of time (usually 2-6 months) and you should be paid for it!
The concept of internships is now popular in New Zealand - if you are at University and looking for a holiday job to earn money, why not consider an internship in your field of interest?
How to find an internship in New Zealand - here are some key things to remember:
Some internship programmes have fixed application and close dates, so make note of these.
These intern positions take a while to process, so think ahead about your needs and availability. They usually expect you to have two years of study under your belt.
The NZ summer holidays are a common time for offering internships, as students are available for a longer period of time.
Use the internship to make connections, explore a variety of roles and assess whether that organisation fits your values and career goals.
An internship is also a great way to develop your softer skills - how do you adapt to a new work environment, how you fit into a new team, work independently, accept feedback etc.
If you love your internship, keep in contact with your manager etc, in order to leverage your experience into a full-time role when you graduate. Connect via LinkedIn.
An internship SHOULD be a paid role, as you will have some skills and knowledge to offer the organisation (even if it is at minimum wage as you may need a lot of supervision) - DO NOT offer your services for free, to secure an internship.
INTERNSHIP DETAILS
Corporate / Professional Services Internships
These are among the biggest and most structured programmes.
Common areas are Accounting, Audit, Tax, Consulting, Risk, Corporate finance, and Technology consulting.
Some of the large organisations offering internships include:
Large employers include:
Deloitte New Zealand
PwC New Zealand
BDO New Zealand
KPMG New Zealand
EY New Zealand
These programmes are often pipelines into graduate jobs, and many interns receive return offers.
Software Engineering / Tech Internships
These exist, but there are fewer than in larger markets like the US or Australia.
Typical areas include Software engineering, Cloud engineering, Cybersecurity, Data engineering, AI/ML, Product engineering, DevOps.
Employers include:
Microsoft New Zealand
Xero
Datacom
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Serko
FNZ
A lot of NZ tech internships are less formal than Big 4 programmes, but give great opportunities for networking and career exposure.
Engineering Internships
Engineering students often have the strongest internship ecosystem because many degrees require practical work experience.
Fields include Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental, Geotechnical, and Transport.
Companies include:
Tonkin + Taylor
Aurecon
WSP New Zealand
ENGEO New Zealand
These internships are often hands-on and project-based.
Government Internships
Government agencies recruit students in Policy, Economics, Data analysis, IT, Public sector consulting, and Law.
Common employers:
The Treasury New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Stats NZ
These are generally more competitive than students expect because the intake sizes are smaller.
Energy / Infrastructure / Utilities
NZ has a surprisingly strong internship market in infrastructure and energy.
Examples:
Contact Energy
Meridian Energy
Transpower New Zealand
These can be especially good for engineering, analytics, sustainability, and software students.
Research and University-Based Internships
Universities also offer:
Summer research scholarships
Lab assistantships
Academic research internships
Industry-linked projects
These are common in:
Computer science
Physics
Engineering
Biology
Health sciences
Startups
Auckland and Wellington have startup ecosystems, though internships are less formal.
Students often find these through:
LinkedIn
University job boards
Networking
Tech meetups
Direct outreach
Startup internships can give broader responsibility, but sometimes less structure and mentoring.
When students usually apply
In NZ, recruitment happens earlier than many students realise.
Typical timing:
February to April: applications open for major summer internships
May to August: interviews/offers
November to February: internship period
Big employers often recruit almost a year in advance.
Where students actually find internships
The main channels are:
University career portals
LinkedIn
GradNewZealand
Prosple NZ
Summer of Tech (especially good for tech students)
Internship & Graduate Expos at universities
In NZ, internships are heavily relationship-driven. Attending employer events and talking to recruiters genuinely helps. Compared with larger countries, there are fewer total positions, so visibility matters more.
Need specific help securing an internship? Book a free intro call with me and I can tailor a package for you - a relevant work-ready CV, a job search strategy, how to optimise an internship opportunity, etc.
Book a call here:
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