Paid Gap Year in New Zealand

Your airfares, travel / health insurance (a visa requirement), visa & entry clearances in addition to police clearances / Working with Children permits are not included in your programme fees.

Assuming that you have applied prior to the relevant application closing dates (see above), we aim to notify application as per the below schedule.

• January Intake: Applicants notified between June and August
• July Intake: Applicants notified be the end of March

On average we have anywhere between 85 and 100 international participants in New Zealand annually. These placements cover both the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

Programme fees are reinvested into the organisation to facilitate ongoing participant support and promotion of our programs. Our goal is to offer opportunities to those travelling on a budget by ensuring that program fees are kept to a minimum.

All destinations are served by our Country Managers. Unlike some other organisations, all our staff are full time (paid employees) who are on hand to assist you should the need arise. We do not outsource our operations nor do we “resell” other programmes. Our Country Managers are your point of contact prior to, during and following the completion of your placement with Letz Live.  They’re even on hand to greet you during your in-country orientation programme at the commencement of your Letz Live placement and will drop by during your time in New Zealand to see how you’re going!

Absolutely! We have access to some great airfare rates and can provide assistance with your comprehensive travel insurance policies that we can offer in-house. Alternatively, if you’re looking at booking with a travel agent who is local to you, we have some great partnerships with reputable agencies around the world.

During the school holiday periods, you’ll be able to explore and travel around New Zealand at your own leisure. Why not make the most of our amazing flight deals and take a quick trip to see Australia, Fiji or even South East Asia? The world is your oyster!

Unfortunately, due to the nature of school programs we are unable to guarantee that you will be placed with a friend. But don’t let this stop you! There will be plenty of opportunities to explore and travel together during school holiday periods.

Every school is unique in their requirements although we presently have no schools that take a single gap assistant. Therefore, you are likely to be placed at a school in New Zealand with at least another young person on the Letz Live programme!

A gap year in New Zealand on the Letz Live programme includes full-time placement at a leading boarding school as a boarding house assistant. You have the opportunity to travel this beautiful country on the school holidays. There is so much to do and discover on a gap year in New Zealand. Check out our New Zealand Destination page for ideas.

Letz Live is approved by the New Zealand Immigration Department to sponsor suitable individuals who wish to partake our gap year programme in NZ for a maximum of 12 months. This programme is called the “Work Exchange Scheme”. We provide all participants with the necessary documentation and instructions on how to obtain the relevant visa. All participants (excluding New Zealand passport holders) undertake their placement under the terms as specified by the Work Exchange Scheme.

The fee includes:

• Your placement as an assistant at a leading New Zealand school, carefully selected by our team (we visit our host placements annually to ensure their continued suitability to host our participants)
• A position within a school that will provide you with an allowance!
• Food and accommodation for the duration of your placement (throughout term time)
• Our famous ‘Orientation’ program which is held prior to the commencement of your placement
• Orientation includes, 2 nights accommodation, meals, training course + you meet countless other participants!
• A dedicated ‘Country Manager’ who will be your key point of contact in the lead up to and throughout the full duration of your placement with us
• New Zealand mobile phone SIM card
• Access to a variety of discounted tours throughout your trip
• Gappie support group so you can meet other participants prior to departure