32 Genuine Ways to Make Money Online in New Zealand

Finding a way to make money online has become the goal of many New Zealanders, whether it be a side hustle or an online business.

As we leave the pandemic behind, people are discovering how much they love working from home, and some are wondering how to make money online so they can switch to this lifestyle permanently.

Whether you want to make extra money, work from home or become an online entrepreneur, I hope you’ll find something useful here.

32 Ways to Make Money Online – NZ Edition!

Since my income for the last ten years is from making money online from New Zealand, I wanted to give you a helpful list of ways to make money online (and from home) from Aotearoa.

1. Take paid online surveys

Taking surveys for money is an excellent boost to your online income. You can easily earn over $200 per month if you sign up for multiple NZ survey companies.

You’re probably not going to make enough to live on just from taking surveys, but in my experience, it’s safer to have multiple streams of income.

That way, if one dries up you have other options to fall back on.

Plus, taking surveys is easy; you can do it on the couch while watching TV.

My favourites include:

• Opinion World is one of the best in New Zealand,
• Octopus Group – Australian-based, pays around $16 per hour
• Pureprofile – high paying survey site with generous referral program.
• Valued Opinions excellent selection of gift card rewards.

If you want to make money from paid surveys, I recommend you join multiple sites to maximise your chances of always having a survey available. 

I have written a more in-depth review of some of the best-paid surveys NZ offers here.

Note: Octopus Group surveys are recruiting new participants in New Zealand. They are Australia’s highest-paying survey site (averaging around $16/hr) and very popular with our Aussie readers. Survey rewards are available in cash, paid directly to your bank account or with gift vouchers. Join Octopus here

2. Share your online activity [Earn $10 Month Guaranteed]

Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel reward you for sharing your online activity so they can track internet usage to identify trends and behaviours.

The simplest of extra income ideas, Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel, require you to install a secure piece of software on your computer or an app on your mobile and keep it installed for a minimum of 14 days.

However, you should keep it installed long-term if you want to continue to earn money online in this manner.

Nielsen states the software will not slow down your computer or impact performance in any other way.

Online surveys and other earning opportunities will appear on your computer as pop-ups as they become available, or you can earn by using your device as usual. 

You can register multiple devices and will earn more for doing so.

You must be the owner of any computer you install the software on and over 18 years of age to participate. Join Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel today.

3. Scan your groceries

Did you know Nielsen Homescan rewards you for scanning the barcodes of your groceries?

This is an easy way to earn vouchers, redeem for items and win prizes in New Zealand.

Once you’ve completed the signup, you will be sent a handheld scanner in the mail or you can download the app.

The information you enter is transmitted weekly.

Your account is then credited with points which you can use to redeem a range of items from a catalogue, including electronics, gift cards, toys and household items.

Click here to join Nielsen Homescan

4. Get cashback and free signup bonuses

Ok, so this isn’t technically a way to make money, more a saving money tip – but I earn a few hundred dollars each year by using cashback sites for my online purchases.

This adds up since I buy almost all my books online and do travel bookings with hotels.com and booking.com.

Two things to be aware of – you’ll need a PayPal account for payment. That’s easy and free to set up here and simple to transfer from PayPal to an NZ bank account so you can actually spend the money.

I recommend joining:

• Cashrewards (Australian but with lots of NZ retailers)
• Kiwiwallet
• Rakuten (US Based but can be better % cashback for online purchases)

5. Start a Service business

Offering a service from home is the simplest way to start making money online.

You could use the skills you’ve acquired throughout your professional life to build a repertoire of offerings such as appointment-making, proposal writing, procurement, travel bookings, and personal shopping.

If you are prepared to work away from the computer, you could use your skills to do the cleaning, ironing and other tasks for customers.

Here’s a handy list of home business ideas to get you started.

6. Become a Freelance Writer

Can you string a sentence together? If so, freelance writing is an excellent way to work from home. NZ and overseas businesses always need content for websites, memos, press releases, etc.

Freelance writing was how I got my start working online from New Zealand.

I used Upwork to build a profile and wrote for publications in Australia and the U.S. It was a little difficult writing in American English, but the money was worth the effort.

I had steady work, paying around USD 50 per article (up to 500 words) and was always paid on time.

I could easily complete 3 or 4 articles each day, so making a liveable income is possible once you get some good reviews.

Experienced writers can turn out between 500 and 1,000 words per hour, meaning the pay rates improve as you go on.

Freelancing is a great way to get a foothold in the online world.

You’ll learn about the sort of services business owners want and get to hone your writing or tech skills at the same time.

I recommend freelancing alongside building up your own site as the ideal combination. 

7. Become a Trademe Seller

Whilst not strictly online, selling on Trademe can be a brilliant way to make money online from home in New Zealand.

You will need to get out and about to source items and make deliveries, but it can definitely be worth your while.

David, an experienced Trademe seller, wrote a list of his top ten Trademe selling tips on the blog.

8. Data entry

If you have experience and can type quickly and accurately, data entry jobs from home could be just what you’re looking for.

Check out Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com, as well as Trademe and Seek.

9. Customer service

CSRs (Customer Service Representatives) are the most commonly occurring jobs under Seek’s Work From Home listings.

If you’ve got experience, working from home as a CSR is one of the simplest transitions to make, as most employers will provide you with the full setup from home.

10. Test websites and provide feedback

You can earn money from home in NZ by testing other people’s websites.

You’ll earn $ 10 USD per 20-minute test.

You’ll need a good internet connection and very clear spoken English.

User testers provide valuable feedback to website owners about website navigation and use.

Click here to read more about becoming a user tester.

11. Become a Virtual Assistant

If you have experience as a personal assistant, executive assistant, or in general office administration, starting a virtual assistant business in New Zealand could be your most profitable route.

A virtual assistant (shortened to VA) provides services for someone else in exchange for an agreed-upon rate of pay.

Basically, you do some work, and they pay you for it.

It might sound like any other job, but it’s very different. When providing virtual assistance, picking the tasks you do and when you do them is totally up to you.

Setting your hours to work around your family, school, or other obligations is a real possibility.

Abbey Ashley from The Virtual Savvy runs a 60-minute FREE training webinar on how to become a booked-out virtual assistant. The training includes ideas on which services to offer, finding customers, scaling your business and more.

Note: Just because you’re in New Zealand doesn’t mean you must restrict yourself to customers here. In fact, I recommend you don’t. 

We are a very small country, and depending on the type of business you offer, you might have more success targeting customers in Australia, the United Kingdom or even the United States.

Even though I live in New Zealand, over half of my income comes from the United States.

12. Proofreading

Proofreading is becoming a more popular way to make money from home.

If you have an excellent eye for detail, becoming a proofreader is a business you can do from anywhere.

Check out our guide on how to become a proofreader here.

13. Become a transcriptionist with REV

Can you type quickly and accurately? Becoming a REV transcriptionist might be a great way for you to earn extra money from home.

Transcriptionists turn audio files into typed documents using a free online editor developed by Rev. You’ll need to be able to listen closely and type what you hear.

You can earn between $0.36USD and $0.45USD per audio minute of transcription.

You can pick and choose jobs that interest you. Payment is made weekly via PayPal.

Learn more about becoming a Rev transcriptionist here.

14. Review music

Love music? Record companies and indie publishers appreciate feedback before marketing new music.

Check out Slice the Pie to be rewarded for sharing your opinions on new music before it hits the charts.

15. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is when you promote a product on a website or social media and receive a commission on any sales made from your referral.

It can be a lucrative business to make money through internet marketing. Still, you’ll need to grow an audience of potential purchasers first, which means affiliate marketing is a long game.

Affiliate marketing is how I started to make money from my blog, and it now makes up over 60% of my online income, which is great as affiliate marketing can be truly passive income.

16. Blogging

Blogging is how I make the bulk of my income online. I run my blog as a business now, but it was just a hobby for many years.

The transition from hobby to business came about after I invested in blogging courses that helped me see the income potential from blogs.

If you are interested in a particular topic, blogging can be a great way to start making money online.

Blogging income comes from many different sources, including sponsorships, affiliate marketing, advertising income, course sales and more.

At last count, my blog had eight income streams that pay me each month.

The great thing about a blog is how easy and cheap they are to start.  Click here to learn more about how to make money blogging. 

17. Teach English online

Teaching English online is a relatively new field for Kiwis.

That’s because many countries prefer American English speakers, but some companies are open to hiring Kiwis with the right experience and qualifications.

If you have a bachelor’s degree and some experience working with kids, you can apply to become a teacher with EF – Education First.

All classes are one-to-one, and they currently pay up to $20 per hour.

To work for EF, you must hold a 40-hour TEFL certificate, which can be taken online.

You must agree to EF undertaking an online background check, which they will pay for.

You can earn a decent hourly rate by teaching online from home as and when it suits you.

18. Sell pictures of your feet

Ok, I get this sounds totally wacky, but would you believe there is a huge demand for feet pics?

So, if you have half-decent-looking feet, you could make some extra cash selling pictures of your feet online.

It’s not just people with a foot fetish who buy foot pics; it can be shoe shops, stock image services and loads more. 

Check out our in-depth guide to selling feet pics online to get your foot in the door of this interesting side hustle.

19. Start an Etsy Store

Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade goods that connects sellers with buyers via its network of Etsy store owners.

Etsy can be a simple method of generating income by making stuff you love while offering items that customers will enjoy.

What are the best things to sell on Etsy? What are the most popular items to sell on Etsy, and how can you succeed as an Etsy store owner?

This article will walk you through the most popular and profitable items to sell on Etsy.

20. Airbnb Hosting

Wondering how to make money online from your home?

With Airbnb, you can easily make your home pay for itself by renting out the entire home – or even just a spare room.

We are considering renting out our place when we travel; according to Airbnb, we could get $130 a night in the low season and up to $295 per night in the summer – that adds to some serious extra cash!

One of our neighbours rents out his sleepout and reckons it’s covered his mortgage payment for the past year. 

You can learn more about becoming an Airbnb host here

21. Airbnb Experiences

Transform your love for local delicacies or your knack for outdoor adventures into a lucrative earner through Airbnb Experiences.

Consider what activities will delight your guests and generate income for you.

Whether you’re channelling your inner chef for a culinary workshop, sharing your enthusiasm for urban art on a graffiti tour, or showcasing your expertise in a particular craft, your passion is the key ingredient.

Lead travellers through your city’s hidden gems, capturing their moments against scenic backdrops.

When pricing your adventure, ensure that it not only reimburses your expenses but also rewards your efforts.

22. Download Money Earning Apps

Your smartphone can be a tool for generating extra money from home or anywhere.

Get started by registering with various apps designed for income generation, and you could earn a tidy sum on the side.

Each app has its own set of requirements, asking you to engage in tasks for monetary rewards.

These rewards might come in the form of gift cards or direct payments through platforms like PayPal.

Your tasks could range from secret shopper missions to internet searches, or from participating in surveys to more interactive activities.

You might find yourself snapping pictures of receipts or recording video reviews of products.

While some apps offer passive earnings, others may invite you to view content like videos or participate in contests.

Resource: 13 Best Money-Making Apps in New Zealand

23. Sell a Digital Product

Most online training courses that teach people how to make money online are sold as digital subscriptions or downloads.

When selling a digital product, your customer places the order, and then the digital content is accessed via their smartphone, tablet or PC.

A digital product could be an e-book or shorter leaflet that guides how to do something.

It may be a tutorial, meal plan or money management template, exercise routine, or checklist.

Ebooks can be sold via Amazon and promoted on social media (more on this later in the article). They can also be featured on blogs or websites.

Once established, this is a pretty effortless way to make a decent income.

Another exciting way to earn online is to sell digital downloads via Etsy.

Trina does that and wrote about how she makes money on Etsy on the blog.

24. Sell an Online Course

If you have transferable skills or in-depth knowledge, then people will pay you to pass that on to them.

All you need is to know more than your students do about the subject. 

Starting an online course is a legitimate way to make money online and share skills that command a high income.

Lots of sites exist to help people create and sell their online courses. These include Teachable, Udemy and SkillShare. 

Teachable offers a free webinar for anyone interested in getting started.

25. Sell a Physical Product

People sell products every day via Trademe, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy and their own websites.

If you can see a market gap, why not give it a go?

You can buy items wholesale via sites like AliExpress; then, you can charge what you want when selling them.

There may not even be a gap in the market. 

Could you offer something better – or cheaper – than the competition?

Perhaps there’s an opportunity to offer a monthly subscription box? 

It’s best to choose a product you really believe in if you want to make this work.

Plus, doing that makes everything related to it seem less of a chore!

Dropshipping means that manufacturers can even dispatch items directly from their warehouse or factory, so storage space doesn’t need to be an issue. 

Check out our article on 20 money-making items to make at home and sell online.

If you have redundant items around the place, you can clear that clutter by selling used goods on Trademe or Facebook Marketplace.

26. Buy and Sell Websites

Trading in websites rather than stocks and shares or property is a big money spinner for some.

Websites are a form of digital real estate with a value – usually around 30* of their monthly profit.

Specialist sites like Flippa and Empire Flippers act as an online marketplace for anyone wishing to buy or sell a website, and it can be an effective method of producing passive income.

A website owner might not have the time to run a site, or they might tire of it.

Whatever the reason, it’s an ideal investment for anyone who doesn’t want to set up a site from scratch.

Buying and selling websites can make money in several ways.

For example, the site may already generate hundreds of dollars per month in ad revenue.

The other option is to obtain a site for a low price before building it up – either to keep it or to sell it at a profit. This is known as website flipping.

27. Trade in Domains

If you have an ear for a great combination of words, you could make money by buying domains and selling them at a profit.

Some great domain names can still be snapped up for a snip of a price.

It just takes a little creative thinking to find them.

This is an easy way to make cash with little outlay and takes minimal time or effort.

28. Online Tutoring

It’s not only English you can teach online.

While Outschool is a kids’ teaching platform, its tutors can teach almost any subject.

So whether you’re good at cooking or coding is more your forte, you can teach motivated learners when it suits you.

From acting to sketching, there’s bound to be a skill you can pass on. 

You don’t have to be a qualified teacher, either. Just someone who loves young people and is passionate about their subject.

Outschool tutors are paid an average of $50 per hour, which goes a long way towards that goal of making a full-time income online.

29. Become a Social Media Manager

If your skills are more photographic or design-led than wordy, why not get paid to post on social media for local businesses?

We all know someone who has no clue about how social media works.

Or have you ever looked for a local company online, only to find that they have zero social media presence?

People like this will pay a more tech-savvy person (that’s you) to sort all that out for them.

Grab a decent camera phone and set up a Canva account, and you can offer to take away those headaches they get just from thinking about social media management.

30. Join an Online Focus Group

Why not sign up for some online focus groups via sites like Respondent?

The role of focus groups is to give businesses helpful insights into consumer behaviour. They also want real-life feedback on their services or products.

Fees vary, but earning $100 or more for a few hours of work can be a good source of income when groups are available.

Taking part in a focus group usually involves travelling to a specific location. However, due to the recent situation, online focus groups have become more popular.

Upon arrival or starting, you will join a group of others to discuss consumer matters – like your impressions of a particular product or brand. 

Respondent recruits panellists for online focus groups and market research in New Zealand and globally.

Eligibility for studies depends on life and professional experience; however, you don’t need a professional career to become a panellist.

I recently found a study for parents, which paid over $300.

At the other end of the scale is a task paying $10 for a 10-minute online interview about snack habits, so there really is something for everyone.

Requirements vary, but in most instances, you’ll need a computer with a webcam to participate.

Payment is made using either PayPal within ten business days of completing your session.

31. Mystery Shopping

If you often shop online or at local stores, mystery shopping is an enjoyable way to earn extra money.

You might even help improve big companies’ products and services by providing valuable feedback.

Mystery shoppers are usually given a detailed brief of their tasks. These might include checking merchandise levels or displays, taking photos, or assessing the standard of customer service.

A lot of mystery shoppers do have to visit retailers, but it can also be possible to work this gig purely from home as the number of people using online shopping increases.

All you need is a computer and decent spoken and written communication skills.

Feedback should always be clear and objective, and some companies will set you a test to check this when signing up.

Mystery shopping will not likely make you rich, but you can get great freebies and perks.

A part-time mystery shopper I know was offered the chance to review an all-expenses paid holiday – and she hadn’t even been in the business for long.

Check out our guide to mystery shopping in New Zealand.

32. Write an e-book

A viable alternative to creating a course or working as a freelance writer is to publish your own e-book.

If you have a story or a skill to share, then there could be a market for the e-book you can create.

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform is the way to go for many home-based writers. It’s easy to sign up for and use, and your book will have the potential to reach millions within a few days.

The platform is free to use, and you could make up to 70% of the profit on each download sold.

E-books are often used by experts in their field to complement their products, blog or service, and can be a great promotional tool as well as a good money spinner.

Still stuck for ideas?

Making money online is no longer the unicorn it once was; there are now remote workers in every corner of New Zealand and the world.

That’s good because online jobs or businesses are more acceptable to clients and employers.

If this list doesn’t contain an idea to help you transition to online work, consider your current skills, experience, and network.

What could you do to serve that network? Where could you add value to their lives and businesses? 

Why I Love Making Money Online

As a mum who makes a full-time income online, I am a huge advocate for this lifestyle. And there has never been an easier time to earn money online from New Zealand.

I love working from home during school hours only, having a flexible lifestyle that fits completely around my family.

I never go into an office or need to answer to anyone but myself. Committing to finding a way to make money online was the best financial decision I have ever made. 

I thought if I shared everything I knew about different ways to make money online, NZ readers could find a way to earn extra income from anywhere with an internet connection.

If working online interests you – there are so many opportunities. I hope this article has been helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Make Money Online New Zealand

How can I make money online in NZ?

The easiest way to make money online fast in New Zealand (or anywhere, for that matter) is to sell something – either an item you no longer use or can flip or a service that you can provide (writing articles, remote administration assistance, graphic design, programming, tutoring etc).

Making money online is no different from making money offline; if you offer a product or service someone needs and price it fairly, you will find a customer.

How can I earn extra money from home in NZ?

This article lists myriad ways to earn extra money from home in New Zealand. From sewing to writing to online tutoring, there is no limit to how you can earn money from home.

Finding the best side hustle from home differs for everyone and will depend on your skills, work experience, life experience and interests.

Can I make $100 a day online?

Making $100 a day online requires serious dedication. It’s more than just taking surveys and selling the odd item on Trademe.

To make $100 a day online, you must constantly provide value to customers. Blogging, freelance writing, graphic design, flipping items, participating in online market research, working as a virtual assistant, and selling digital items are all ways that you can make $100 a day online if you are prepared to do the groundwork required to build a business and find customers.

Do you make money online? Any tips to share?