Living and Working in Central Otago

Living & Working Here

Our climate, diverse seasons, wide open spaces, slower pace of life and down to earth attitude attract people from far and wide to visit, live and do business here.

Central Otago offers a unique blend of commerce and lifestyle to value-added industries. Farming, horticulture and viticulture are our main economic drivers and industries related to construction, hydroelectricity, real estate and light manufacturing are well on the rise. With the continued roll out of ultra-fast broadband, barriers to establishing any type of business are decreasing. These improvements have increased our economy’s ability to diversify.

Central Otago has an excellent network of roads and easy access to airports in Queenstown and Dunedin. These connections enable businesses to service national and international clients while opting for the Central Otago lifestyle.

If you’re looking to live and work in Central Otago, either long term or seasonally, the following links will connect you with opportunities.

Finding work in Central Otago

Meet some locals.

Glen Christiansen

General Manager, The Gate, Cromwell

Alex Huffadine

Principal Lecturer, Polytechnic Campus, Cromwell

Yu Ishikawa

Dentist, Alexandra

Anna Gillespie

Farmer, Omakau

Shirley Clark

i-SITE Team Leader, Ranfurly

Sally Feinerman

Business Owner, Roxburgh

Tara Druce

Business Consultant, Alexandra

Sharon Smid

Community Group Facilitator, Cromwell

Kate Scott

Business Owner, Cromwell

Schools & Education

Central Otago has several education providers from early childhood through to vocational and community education. Boarding options are available at some of the secondary schools along with options for international students to study. Vocational training is provided through the Otago Polytechnics Central Campus in Cromwell.

Education & Training Providers in Central Otago

Our Climate

Alexandra Climate Infographic

Cromwell Climate Infographic

Ranfurly Climate Infographic

Roxburgh Climate Infographic

Internet connectivity in Central Otago

Did you know… Alexandra was chosen by Spark as one of the first locations in New Zealand to experience 5G in 2019?

Internet is very much part of our daily lives, and as we do more over it, connection quality has become increasingly important. Fibre has been installed in a number of Central Otago townships and is scheduled to be installed in the remaining townships by the end of 2022.

While the provision of fibre is focused on urban areas, there are a number of Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) in Central Otago that can provide a quality internet service without requiring your house or business to be physically connected to fibre.

Broadbandmapnz provides a free independent service where all internet providers can list their coverage areas and internet connectivity available at your address.

Check your connectivity options.

Need advice?

Nick Lanham is the Central Otago District Council's Economic Development Manager, and he is happy to provide advice on local conditions and connect you with relevant individuals.

Call Nick

Email Nick

OUR REGIONAL VALUES

Make a Difference

Be at the cutting edge, setting directions and accepting challenges.

Respecting Others

Take the time to listen and understand other people’s opinions and cultural differences.

Embracing Diversity

Be open to new ideas, open to exploring the possibilities and appreciate the strengths and talents each person brings.

Adding Value

Always ask ourselves is there a better way – one that achieves a premium status, quality experience or interaction.

Having Integrity

Seek to be open and honest in all our interactions.

Learning from the past

Choose to learn from past experiences with the future generations in mind.

Making a sustainable difference

Make decisions with the community in mind and in harmony with the natural environment so we can help create the kind of place we can be proud of.

Protecting our rich heritage

Protect and celebrate our rich heritage in landscapes, architecture, flora, fauna and cultural heritage.

Meeting our obligations

Do the right thing by our region and check what legal requirements need to be met before you get started.