Overseas Enquiries

PLAY FOOTBALL IN SUNNY NEW ZEALAND

Please note - this information is only a guide and decisions regarding working holidays or working in New Zealand are made by New Zealand Immigration - not Napier City Rovers!

If you are interested in coming to New Zealand to play football, you can apply for a working holiday visa.  New Zealand has working holiday arrangements with many countries - check this link to see if your country is included

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/

If you are applying from the UK, you must be able to meet the eligibility criteria as follows

You must:

  • usually be permanently living in the United Kingdom – this means you can be temporarily visiting another country when you lodge your application
  • have a British passport that‘s valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
  • be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old
  • not bring children with you
  • hold a return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket which can be checked when you arrive in NZ at Immigration
  • have a minimum of NZ$350 per month of stay available funds to meet your living costs while you’re here
  • meet the health and character requirements
  • be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work or study being secondary intentions for your visit
  • not have been approved a visa or permit under a working holiday scheme before.
 

To check these criteria out in more depth and apply online - follow this link http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/

If you are older than 30 or have children, then you may be able to work in New Zealand through another scheme - http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/

There are some occupations that New Zealand has indicated as being in demand.  The attached lists show the immediate and long term skills shortages.  If you - or your partner - work in an occupation on these lists and you meet the qualification or employment criteria - then you could stay longer than your working holiday visa term!  These occupations include common jobs such as:
Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary school teachers
Truck Drivers
Mechanics, Electricians
Nurses, Midwives, Physiotherapist
 

Further information:

Firstly, a note to clarify what games we play!

To play “football” in New Zealand means that you play Rugby Union.
In New Zealand, the round ball game is called Soccer although it has recently been altered officially to football.

Football in New Zealand is played during both Winter (April - August approx.) and Summer.

Winter football is the traditional period where the game is played in regional, district and local leagues. Regional football is played in three divisions geographically based. They are; Northern League, covering the top half of the North Island, Central League, covering the lower half of the North Island, and Southern League, which caters for the whole of the South Island. These regional leagues represent the highest level of winter play.

Napier City Rovers 1st team plays in the Central League during winter.

In addition, New Zealand’s version of the FA Cup, called the Chatham Cup, is played during the winter season.

The National competition is played during summer and comprises of an 8 team league with end of season “play-off’s”. The winners of this competition go forward to represent New Zealand in the Oceania Qualifying Tournament for the World Club Championship.

The local province of Hawke's Bay has a team in this Competition.

As a Club, we offer the opportunity for players to compete at the highest level of New Zealand football, winter and/or summer. Over the years many players from the UK have gained residential status and have gone on to play for the National side, while others have gained additional experience and returned to professional clubs back in England and Scotland.

About Napier

Napier is a coastal city located on the east coast of the North Island. Geographically, it is on the same latitude as Southern Spain and enjoys a benign climate. Napier, together with close neighbour Hastings, combine to make the region NZ’s 6th largest population centre (approx 150,000).

The local economy is largely agricultural & horticulture based, with processing plants for meat, wood-pulp, fruit and vegetables (Heinz Wattie & McCain Foods have plants in the area) forestry, and viticulture. There is also a flourishing Port at Napier exporting local materials worldwide.

The booming local economy has resulted in a shortage of skilled people, with electricians, plumbers, fitters, mechanics and builders in short supply. In fact all skilled people are welcome.

We work in partnership with local employers/agencies to ensure prospective players have job opportunities available to them.

The pleasant climate along with its street cafes and boutique wineries gives the area a distinct Mediterranean feel and a life style far removed from the hurly burly.

For more information on Napier and immigration check out the following web sites :-

www.napier.govt.nz  

www.napierlife.com

www.seek.co.nz