Maximize Your Earnings in New Zealand: Top Side Hustles for Extra Income [2024]

Are you in need of a side hustle that makes money in New Zealand? If so, I’m sure you’re one of them. No matter how well you budget, if you don’t have enough money coming in, you’ll find yourself struggling to make ends meet. Aotearoa is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it is also one of the most expensive. That’s why so many of us have to juggle multiple jobs or side hustles to make ends meet—or to save up for a rainy day.

Here’s a list of short-term and long-term ways to make some extra cash in New Zealand: Short-term money-making strategies for when you’re short on cash and Long-term cash-making strategies. Things that can be turned into a side hustle:

Dog walker or pet sitter

Whether you’re a dog walker or a pet sitter, you’ll be able to advertise your services on platforms like Pawshake or PetBacker. These platforms allow you to advertise your services to other dog owners who are looking for someone to take care of their dog while they are away or who want help with their dog's exercise routine. The rates you can charge for dog walking vary depending on where you live, how many dogs you have, and the size of your dogs. However, any platform fees you charge should be taken into account. You can also turn this into a regular source of income by charging a fee for multiple walks per week or by adding pet-sitting services to your service.

Sign up for Online Surveys

Surveys won’t be as profitable as part-time work or starting your own business, but they’ll provide steady, incremental income for those ready to help market researchers learn more about spending behaviour. Surveys can be completed at any time, and an average person who submits surveys on a regular basis can expect to earn around $100–200 a month. If you’re ready to start earning money online, we recommend signing up with one of the top three survey sites: iSay, Homescan and Digital voice. They’re all part of large global companies, and you’ll get rewards as promised—no gimmicks! The more surveys you submit, the more bonuses you’ll receive.

Teach English Online

Kiwis are relatively new to the world of online English teaching. This is due to the fact that many countries prefer US English speakers.

With a minimum of 40-minute lessons, you can earn $21 USD per lesson. You can work as much or as little as you like. During the week, most lessons are held in the evening, so you will need to be up early for this side job.

On the weekends, lessons are held throughout the day. If you work hard, you can make a lot more money on top of what you earn from Monday to Friday.

Websites that you can teach English online: Prepl and Fiver

Find a part-time job that has regular hours

There are many part-time jobs out there, and loyal part-timers have more chances for better shifts. A part-time job gives you money, new friends, and a break from the day-to-day routine. The hours may be fixed - you might start on Friday night or Saturday night, which isn’t social, but loyal (and dependable) part-timers often get better shifts.

A part-time job can lead to a full-time job, and it usually pays weekly, so you don’t have to wait long for cash.

Websites that you can search for part-time jobs: Seek, LinkedIn and TradeMe

List services on Fiverr

Fiverr is the world’s largest marketplace for business owners who want to engage in professional services, from logo design to content writing, PowerPoint prep, web design, app building, and video marketing.

The amount of money you make on Fiverr is determined by the value of your services, which are referred to as “gigs’’ on Fiverr. For instance, a ‘web design gig’ is worth more than a ‘data entry gig’, but it’s also more competitive because a lot of sellers offer their services.

Deliver Food

If you are 18 years of age or older, you can earn money by delivering takeaway foods. You will need a reasonably modern smartphone and a bicycle, scooter, or car. Delivery companies such as DoorDash, Menulog, and UberEats, are always hiring for their delivery teams as they grow their businesses.

They provide their employees with 24/7 support through their app as well as accident insurance.

If you like to go out and explore the town or city, why not try to deliver fresh, hot food during your free time?

Mowing Your Neighbour's Lawns

Mowing your neighbour's lawns is a great way to make some extra money. If you have a mower and some time to spare, print up some flyers and drop them off at your neighbour's house. Unless you have a large ute/car, it's best to mow where you can walk to and from.

Most neighbours will be happy to let you mow their lawns, but make sure you check with them first as you'll need to have transport to and from your neighbour's house to get your grass clippings to the green waste bin.

Become a Trademe Seller

If you're looking for a way to make some extra money from home, selling items on Trademe (or Facebook Marketplace) can be a great option. You can start with the stuff you already have around your house. Check out what similar items are selling for, take some decent photos (blurry images take away from your profit, don't post them), write a convincing but accurate description, and get selling!

Cut down on expenses

The simplest way to get more money is by spending less. Costs, both large and small, add up – it's much easier to cut unnecessary expenses than it is to work 10 hours a week for a side job.

Examples of things you can cut down on:

Cancelling Subscriptions (Sky TV, Netflix Magazines, Dropbox, etc)
Re-negotiating Life, Income Protection, and related cover,
Getting Cheaper Car, and Home Insurance Policies
Cancelling Expensive Credit Cards (or Switching to Low-Cost or Free Cards),
Cutting Overdraft Costs With A Better Bank Account,
Switching to Cheaper SIM-Only Phone Plan,
Taking Lunch to Work

Become a Mystery Shopper

Mystery shoppers get paid to go to stores and restaurants and record their experiences. They usually get paid for their time and vouchers to spend or reimbursement for any expenses they incur. Right now, New Zealanders can sign up to be Mystery Shoppers for Ipsos. This is a great side hustle for people who love shopping. The assignments cover a variety of industries, such as Retail, Restaurants, Telecommunication, Petrol Stations, Banking and Finance, Healthcare, etc. Most projects run on a monthly basis, so you can be sure you'll always have some work waiting for you. Rewards are based on the success of the survey, with prizes ranging from NZD5 to NZD15 per task. Physical visits start at NZD10 and can range from NZD50 to NZD150. Payments are processed directly into your bank accounts every 14 days.

Rent Out the Spare Room on Airbnb

If you have a spare room, renting it out on Airbnb can be a great way to make some extra cash. It doesn’t even have to be fancy. Airbnb says it’s about managing expectations, in other words, “tell it like it is”. Rooms with a private bathroom and kitchen will usually charge higher rates. Where you live also plays a big role in how much you can charge. If you live in a busy city centre, close to the coast, or in rural areas, you’re likely to get a good deal.

Whether you have a spare bedroom, a sleepover in the garden, or an old granny flat, renting out your spare room can make you a lot of money. Unlike renting a boarder or a flatmate, you also have the option to choose when you rent the room.