New Zealand CV Template 2026 — Format, Examples & Free Download

New Zealand CVs look similar to Australian ones but have their own expectations on length, referees and local context. This page covers the Kiwi convention and how to complete the template on this page.

How resumes are formatted in New Zealand

The document is usually called a CV (resume is also understood), written in New Zealand English — British spelling (organisation, prioritise) with local usage. Two to three pages is acceptable in New Zealand, longer than the UK norm, because referees and a fuller role history are commonly included — but relevance still rules: cut anything that does not support the target role. Reverse chronological with month and year.

Personal details stay minimal: no photo, no date of birth, no marital status. Name, city, phone, email and LinkedIn are enough — plus a one-line work-rights statement, which matters here: employers hiring visa-sponsored candidates need to see whether you hold a work visa or need accreditation-based sponsorship. New Zealand CVs often include referees at the end — two or three with title, company and contact details is a normal format, though "available on request" is acceptable when you have not yet asked permission. A cover letter is expected alongside the CV for most roles, and STAR-format achievement bullets read well locally.

Sections to include, in order

1. Contact details — name, city, phone, email, LinkedIn; one line on your work rights or visa status.
2. Professional summary — two or three lines naming your field, strongest result and target role.
3. Work experience — reverse chronological, three to five achievement bullets per role with numbers.
4. Education — qualification, institution, year; include relevant training and industry papers.
5. Key skills — tools and methods grouped by category, echoing the job ad's language.
6. Certifications — with issuing body and year; note any qualification assessed in New Zealand terms if relevant.
7. References — two or three referees with contact details, or "available on request" if you have not confirmed with them yet.

What gets a New Zealand CV rejected (ATS + recruiter)

• No work-rights line — sponsorship questions are answered at screening; state your visa position in one sentence.
• Photo or personal details — against local convention; they add nothing and date the document.
• Duty lists without outcomes — "responsible for X" is not evidence; a quantified result is.
• Referees listed without permission — always ask first; a referee taken by surprise reflects on you.
• Wrong spelling dialect — American spellings on a Kiwi application read as a copied template.
• Over-length or untargeted content — three pages of every job you have ever held loses the reader; edit to relevance.

Free New Zealand CV template: how to use ours

Replace each [bracketed placeholder]: name and contact bar first, then the professional summary, which should name your target role and your work-rights status in one sentence. Rewrite the STAR bullets with real achievements and numbers, fill skills and certifications with terms from the advertisement, and set up the references block with referees you have already asked. Press Print / Save as PDF, choose "Save as PDF" — A4 is pre-set — and save as FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf. The resume builder holds an editable version of the same sections if you want to tailor a copy per application.

Frequently asked questions

Do I mention my visa status on a New Zealand CV?

Yes — one line under your contact details saying what you hold (work visa, residency) or that you need sponsorship. Employers screening for Accredited Employer Work Visa roles look for exactly this information, and stating it early prevents good applications being set aside on assumption.

How long should a Kiwi CV be?

Two to three pages is acceptable in New Zealand — slightly longer than UK practice — because a fuller history and referee details are normal. Beyond three, edit ruthlessly: relevance beats completeness.

Should I include referees on the CV?

Both approaches are accepted. Listing two or three referees with contact details is common practice; "references available on request" is fine if you have not yet asked them. Never publish a referee's details without their permission.

Is a cover letter needed?

For most advertised roles, yes — a one-page letter on why this employer and role, sent with the CV. Where an ad says "CV only", follow that instruction exactly.