Travel and Tourism Internships New Zealand2022-04-06T10:32:20+12:00

Travel and Tourism Internships

New Zealand

Travel and tourism internships involve a wide variety of tasks related to the tourism industry, one of New Zealand’s largest industries. We have opportunities in most parts the tourism business, including customer service, sales, marketing, human resources, finance, operations, guiding and events. We have internship hosts in the Accommodation, Transportation, Food and Beverage, Activities, Tours, and tourism association sectors ranging from the FIT and backpacker markets through to 5 Star everything in-between.

Travel and tourism internships are perfect for students currently studying tourism, hospitality, or customer service. However, an internship in this area develops a wide array of transferable skills that any employer would be impressed to see on your CV.

Placements are primarily made in Auckland but are possible in other cities when requested or when opportunities do not exist in Auckland. Placements range from 4 – 40 weeks depending on the visa you are on and any university requirements. If you require a shorter or a longer internship please make a special request in your application form. Internships may be either part time (starting at 16 hours per week) or full time (up to 40 hours per week). We can negotiate a set number of hours per week in advance that satisfies your schedule and any University requirements. Most internship placements are Monday to Friday however some hosts may requires some assistance on evenings and weekends. If you are planning to study or work part time we can plan your internship hours around your schedule.

What’s Included?

  • Online interview

  • Placement Supervisor

  • Placement agreement

  • Orientation

  • Travel & local advice

  • Social community

  • 24-hour support service

  • Certificate of completion

Travel and Tourism Internship Tasks May Include

  • Interacting with clients via phone, email, social media, and in-person

  • General marketing related activities

  • Business communications and finance

  • Updating files and databases

  • Updating passenger manifests and tours

  • Assisting with or guiding on tours

  • Liaising with tour operators

  • Processing sales and refunds

  • Social media posting, journalism and content delivery

  • Improving guest experience

  • Using company customer relationship management (CRM) software

  • Updating websites, product manuals, and processes

  • Scheduling appointments and meetings

  • Accommodation services such as check in, check out or room service

  • General administration

Travel and Tourism Internship Requirements

  • Current undergraduate degree student/holder in a related field

  • Aged 18 – 30

  • Upper intermediate level of English or higher

  • University papers to show that the internship is a part of your program of study

  • Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills

  • Ability to prioritise workload

  • Logical with an eye for details

  • Proficient with relevant business applications (e.g. MS Office)

  • 4 weeks minimum, 24 weeks maximum
  • Up to 12 weeks on a tourist visa, up to 24 weeks on a student trainee visa, and up to one year on a working holiday visa (ask us for more details)

  • Criminal background check

  • Completed online application form and uploaded documents

    (resume, motivation letter, references)

What visa do i need to take an internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:10:52+12:00

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia you may need an NZeTa visa, visitor visa, student visa, work visa, or working holiday visa to participate in placement, Please see our visas section for more information.

How long will it take to get to my internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:15:18+12:00

In Auckland, host organisations are located all over the city, so your travel time will depend on where you live. However, we aim to keep travel time as short as possible, and if you book accommodation via INTERNeX, we’ll ensure that your travel time is no longer than an hour each way (which is an average Auckland commute).  Outside of Auckland, travel times tend to be shorter than an hour.

Can i earn course credit for my internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:15:35+12:00

In short, yes. We can make all internship placements are made in accordance with any requirements your university has. You should check with your university or faculty head that your placement can receive course credit and whether your university has any requirements you must meet – e.g. number of hours worked; length of placement etc. We’ll take these into account when we make your placement.

Any students from our local or international partner universities will automatically get course credit applied on successful completion of your placement and submission to your University. If your University is not a partner of INTERNeX we are happy to provide any feedback or ensure reporting standards that are required for your University.

Will i get time off during my internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:15:34+12:00

Internships do not usually have a built-in holiday break, however we can arrange these on a case-by-case basis. If you have a set holiday date (as many local university and study abroad students do) or you have family visiting, for example, let us know during the interview process and we’ll arrange this time off with your host organisation when we negotiate your placement. Remember also, that once your placement agreement is in place, you’ll know your expected hours to be working and can plan your weekly time-off away around this.

If you’ve booked accommodation with INTERNeX, please note that you are not entitled to refunds on your accommodation fees if you are not staying in the accommodation during your any break from the placement. For this reason, we recommend you take holidays either before your internship starts or after it ends.

We’re partnered with several local travel organisations so you can book a travel package within New Zealand before you depart your home country and will discuss travel plans and options in your initial consultation and can book these for you when you confirm your arrival and departure dates.

What hours do i attend my internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:15:48+12:00

We offer both full-time (up to 40 hours per week) and part-time internships (as few as 16 hours per week), so you can manage your internship around your studies and other commitments. Your weekly hours will depend on your preferences, the needs of your host organisation, and any requirements your university might have.

What will my internship tasks be in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:18:09+12:00

Your activities and/or projects during your internship will all be clearly outlined in your placement agreement. These will be in accordance with your preferences, your host organisation’s projects at the time, and any requirements your university may have. In general, you’ll have a range of tasks. You’ll start with fairly simple things, but as your internship progresses and your confidence in the role develops, you’ll be given more responsibilities and complex tasks.

How is my internship selected in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:18:09+12:00

We’re dedicated to choosing the right placement for you – one where you’ll be comfortable but also challenged in all the right ways. We carefully select your internship based on factors such as your individual background and experience, your level of English, and the length of your stay.

After you apply for our internship program, you’ll be assigned a placement supervisor, whom you’ll meet via a video conferencing tool. In this meeting, you’ll be able to ask any questions you may have about the program and voice any preferences you have. Following the meeting, your supervisor will start your placement search and find a suitable organisation to host you.

You may need to have an interview or two with your potential host organisation, which your supervisor will organise.

Once we’ve found the perfect organisation for you, we’ll send you a placement agreement outlining some key information about your internship, such as your tasks and responsibilities.

What is the duration of an internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:18:22+12:00

Our internships generally last between 4 and 24 weeks, although longer placements can be made if your university requires it.

An internship of 4-8 weeks is usually long enough to observe and participate in an organisation’s basic processes, learn about its business philosophy, and begin helping out on various projects.

An internship of 8-16 weeks is usually enough time to participate in and start to master basic business processes, to become an integral part of the team, and to start managing your own projects and becoming involved with larger team projects.

An internship of 16+ weeks allows you to master business processes and even start improving those processes, to become a fundamental part of the team, and to take on more complex projects both independently and as part of a team.

What organisations can i be placed with in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:18:40+12:00

We offer internships in private, public, government, non-government, charity, and not-for-profit organisations.

Each of our placements has specific requirements, and we’ll place you depending on your individual background, experience, level of English, and length of stay. In most cases, you’ll need to have an interview or two with your prospective host organisation.

What is an internship in New Zealand?2022-04-04T12:18:38+12:00

An internship is a period of supervised, unpaid, practical  training or experience for qualified students and professionals. It can take place remotely or onsite within an organisation and is a time-limited, not permanent, role.

What’s in it for you? A taste of real-world experience in your chosen academic or professional field, giving you a leg up on your peers.

Why should I choose Internex?2022-07-14T18:00:40+12:00

The team at Internex have worked in the youth education and travel industry for over 20 years, so we know how to make your overseas experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.  Our team have all lived, worked, and studied overseas and know firsthand the challenges of moving to a new country and will be there to support you every step of the way. 

We’ll make sure you know what to expect and how to prepare, we’ll take care of any practical difficulties you may have, and our local representatives will ensure you are happy and looked after while you’re away. 

Internex is also dedicated to providing the best quality programs at affordable prices. Accommodation and meals (where included) make up the bulk of a program’s cost. Remaining fees are for our local representatives who ensure you’re taken care of in every country we represent.

We meet all our participants on Zoom or in person to learn more about them.  We personally visit our hosts to ensure the highest standards and when you live with one of our hosts in homestays or farmstay we collect criminal records and have them complete an application form to ensure they understand the expectations of our participants. 

We are not a search engine, we are real people that ensure this real experience is as good as it can be and all stakeholders are satisfied with the outcome.

We want you to be safe and happy while you learn and have fun abroad!

How long is the internship?2022-04-04T13:44:41+12:00

Our internships generally last between 4 and 24 weeks, although longer placements can be made if your university requires it. 

An internship of 4-8 weeks is usually long enough to observe and participate in an organisation’s basic processes, learn about its business philosophy, and begin helping out on various projects.

An internship of 8-16 weeks is usually enough time to participate in and start to master basic business processes, to become an integral part of the team, and to start managing your own projects and becoming involved with larger team projects.

An internship of 16+ weeks allows you to master business processes and even start improving those processes, to become a fundamental part of the team, and to take on more complex projects both independently and as part of a team.

Click here for more information about our application and placement process

Internex provides the following additional services; 

  • Pre-departure support
  • Flights and visa assistance
  • Insurance booking
  • 3 night Arrival Package
  • Airport transfer
  • Homestay accommodation
  • Hostel accommodation
  • Multiple placement bookings

Additional services can be added to your booking during the application process.

“I am doing great! Everything has been good so far. I was on one of the tours last weekend (Rotorua/Taupo/Waitomo) and it was really fun. I will be going to Hobbiton next weekend with my friend from Finland who is in New Zealand for a couple of weeks!”

Julia, Finland – Tourism internship, July 2019

Apply Now

If you are interested in finding out more about travel and tourism internships in New Zealand, apply today and start the process!

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