New Zealand on the hunt for Australian IT workers

More than 300 tech jobs are being offered in Melbourne this weekend in the final leg of the New Zealand Jobs Expo. Datacom and HP are among the employers targeting Victoria to find experienced developers, programmers and technicians.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said a growing economy is creating IT jobs “across the ditch”, with salaries twice the national average.

Expo organiser, Scott Mathieson, said there are jobs for software developers, test analysts, technicians, project leads and delivery managers.

He added that New Zealand’s national broadband network is now at an advanced stage and high speed internet services is a reality with almost every school, hospital and business connected to the optical fibre network.

“New Zealand offers a unique opportunity to experience the potential of optical fibre broadband now,” he said.

Steve McGill, general manager of settlement, protection and attraction at the MBIE said the move across the ditch is easier than people might think.

“Australian citizens and permanent residents can live and work in New Zealand without a visa and enjoy immediate access to healthcare and other benefits,” he said.

Almost 4500 job seekers have already attended the New Zealand Jobs Expo in Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane.

MBIE first put out the call last November for Australian workers to join its economy saying that 50,000 jobs – many in IT – were being created over the next two years.

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Follow Byron Connolly on Twitter:@ByronConnolly