In the community
Everything we do is for our communities but words on the wall mean nothing if you can’t back it up with action.
We’re tackling the tech sector’s entry barriers head on. From addressing the underrepresentation of Māori & Pasifika, to our various university partnerships and student initiatives through Taitamariki Potentia, this is our way of giving back and uplifting communities that need it most.
Taitamariki Potentia
From meetups and webinars, to mentoring and hackathons, our award-winning initiative helps students and grads tackle the tech sector’s entry barriers head on.
Community partnerships
The Potentia Undergraduate Scholarship in Computer Science
Our long-running partnership with the University of Auckland stretches back to 2013 through the Potentia Undergraduate Scholarship in Computer Science. As well as $10,000 towards tuition fees, its real value comes in the form of a unique introduction to the tech sector, including mentorship, office/boardroom access, and a rewarding leadership role within our student community, Taitamariki Potentia.
Rea
We’re committed to achieving equitable pathways for Māori & Pasifika and in 2023, we joined forces with Rea, an impact enterprise that helps solve talent challenges for employers through a net new, collaborative approach. With the majority of Rea's learners being Māori & Pasifika, Rea is increasing representation while helping people realise better life outcomes through training, support, and job placement.
Sponsorships
As well as sponsoring various clubs/societies at Kiwi universities, we’re also immersed within the startup ecosystem:
- University of Auckland Developers’ Society
- University of Auckland Web Development Consulting Club
- University of Auckland Data Science Club
- Victoria University of Wellington Women in Tech
- Flying Kiwi Angels
- Hillfarrance
- Product Aotearoa
- UX Auckland
Youth Inspire
Our friends at Youth Inspire do some amazing work with rangatahi in Lower Hutt and we’ve been lucky enough to play a small part in that journey over the last four years. Supporting their Youth Employability Programme, our consultants help rangatahi to become work-ready by hosting CV writing and interview workshops throughout the year.
FAQ
Software engineer salaries reflect current demand for talent and skills. Currently, the median salary for a Senior Software Engineer in New Zealand is NZ$130,000 per year, depending on experience and environment.
We compile local salary trends in our compensation report so you’re up to date on how market demand is influencing Software Engineer salaries year on year.
A recruitment agency is most valuable when hiring requires more than advertising and screening applicants. This includes situations where market conditions are uncertain, the skill set is niche, or access to passive candidates is necessary.
In the New Zealand tech market, the talent pool is relatively concentrated and many experienced professionals are not actively applying for roles. Agencies with established networks can access candidates who are open to the right opportunity but not visible through job boards.
For permanent roles in New Zealand, recruitment agency fees typically range from 15 percent to 25 percent of the candidate’s first year base salary. The exact figure depends on the seniority and complexity of the role, how competitive the market is, and the level of involvement required.
For contract positions, agencies usually apply a markup to the contractor’s hourly or daily rate. This markup covers the cost of sourcing, payroll, compliance, and ongoing management for the duration of the contract, as well as the agencies profit margin.
In New Zealand, a common estimate is that a bad hire costs at least 30 percent of the employee’s annual salary. In many cases, the true cost is closer to six to nine months of pay once lost productivity, rehiring time, and management distraction are considered. For example, if a role pays NZ$140,000 per year, the cost of a bad hire can range from roughly NZ$40,000 to over NZ$100,000.
The financial impact is not just salary. It includes recruitment costs, onboarding time, team disruption, missed delivery targets, and the cost of restarting the hiring process.
In today’s market, the median salary for a Senior Business Analyst in New Zealand is NZ$122,000 per year in a permanent role and NZ$120 per hour as a contractor. What makes the difference is not just years of experience, but the type of problems being solved. Analysts who operate in niches, close to senior stakeholders or across major system change tend to command stronger packages.
For a clearer picture of where the market is moving, including recent shifts in demand, see our latest compensation report.
