Critical Cooling, Commercial Services and Industrial Opportunities in New Zealand
Hays New Zealand is seeking experienced UK HVAC and refrigeration professionals interested in temporary, project or permanent opportunities. Demand spans data centres, healthcare, commercial construction, industrial facilities, maintenance and commissioning.
The opportunity
- Data centres and mission-critical cooling environments
- Hospitals, healthcare and complex commercial buildings
- Industrial refrigeration, food production and process facilities
- HVAC installation, service, maintenance and commissioning
- Controls, BMS and plant optimisation
- Temporary, project and permanent opportunities
Indicative New Zealand package
Employment option Indicative package Permanent base salary NZD $80,000-$110,000 Hourly / project work NZD $40-$55+ per hour HVAC installer / duct fitter NZD $32-$45 per hour Rates are in NZD and are indicative only. Final pay depends on experience, New Zealand registration, location, project, shift pattern, overtime, allowances, vehicle, accommodation and employment model.
Working Holiday Visa pathway
UK citizens aged 18 to 35 may be eligible for New Zealand's United Kingdom Working Holiday Visa. This can provide a practical initial route for temporary or project work while the role and package are agreed. The visa does not permit permanent employment, and candidates must confirm their own eligibility and conditions directly with Immigration New Zealand. Employer-supported work visas may be considered for selected senior or specialist appointments, but this depends on the role and employer and is not guaranteed.
What we are looking for
- Recognised HVAC, refrigeration or mechanical-services qualifications
- Chiller, VRF, heat-pump or large commercial plant experience
- Industrial refrigeration or process-cooling experience is highly desirable
- Controls, BMS, commissioning or data-centre cooling capability is valuable
- Strong diagnostic and fault-finding skills
- Electrical capability, manufacturer training or supervisory experience is welcomed
New Zealand licencing and competency requirements
There is no single licence covering every HVAC position, so requirements depend on the actual duties. Prescribed electrical work may require EWRB authorisation. Some gas-filling tasks may require an approved filler certificate, and employers may require additional refrigerant, hazardous-substance, manufacturer or site competencies. Candidates should provide details of refrigerants used, electrical scope, certificates, chiller and controls experience so the correct pathway can be assessed.
Future Antarctic opportunities
Suitable candidates who are established and working in New Zealand may also be considered for future Antarctic or remote-site opportunities. Medical and background-check requirements are completed locally, so this should be viewed as a potential future pathway rather than a guaranteed deployment.
Apply
Please send your current CV and a short summary covering:
- Current location and nationality
- Qualifications and licence or registration status
- Relevant project and technical experience
- Preferred New Zealand locations
- Earliest realistic relocation/start date
- Current package and minimum realistic NZD expectations
- Whether you are seeking temporary, project or permanent work