Here's a number worth sitting with - according to Trade Me's 2026 Circular Economy Report, the average Kiwi is sitting on around 19 unused items worth roughly $1,300. Stuff already in the garage, the wardrobe, the shed. Nearly two-thirds of us say cost of living is a reason we're buying and selling second-hand more than we used to.

A few hours a week, put toward the right thing, can genuinely add up - enough to cover a power bill, book a flight home, or get a lot closer to whatever you're saving for, whether that's a holiday, a car, or just a bit of a buffer.

Here's nine side hustles that could fit around a job and life. Just things everyday Kiwis are genuinely doing, right now, for real money.

(One thing worth saying first: a recent SEEK survey found 46% of Kiwis have never asked for a pay rise. If that's you, it might be worth having that conversation before you commit your evenings to a side hustle - sometimes the highest-leverage move is with the job you've already got. But if you've done that, or a side hustle is just what you're after, here's where to start!)

The quick comparison

1. UGC content for brands

UGC (user-generated content) is filming short, natural-looking videos of products for brands to use in their own ads and social posts. You don't need an audience; you just need a phone and the ability to talk to camera like a normal human.

What it pays: NZ creators are typically earning $150–$500 per video, with newer creators starting around the $200 mark through platforms built for this exact gig. Rates go up with experience, and if a brand wants to run your video as a paid ad, that's usually an extra fee on top.

How to start: Film 3–4 sample videos using products you already own and love: skincare, snacks, homeware, whatever's in your cupboard. Put them in a simple portfolio (a Notion page or Canva doc works fine), then pitch small NZ brands directly or sign up to a UGC platform. It's one of the lowest-barrier "content" hustles going, because the bar isn't polish - it's authenticity.

You don't need a following to get UGC work, and that's genuinely one of the best things about it. But it doesn't hurt to have one either - posting your videos to a social account (pick one platform, Instagram or TikTok, rather than spreading across all of them) means brands can see your work in one place, and if a following starts to build, it can open the door to higher rates and more deals down the track.

Funnily enough, we're one of those brands.

We're always keen to work with real Kiwis on UGC content for Kōura: we’re looking for honest, everyday content about money and KiwiSaver. If that's you, flick us an email at [email protected] and tell us a bit about yourself!

2. Reselling and flipping

This is the one blowing up right now, and Trade Me's data backs it up: Gen Z and Millennials aren't just decluttering, they're treating resale as a genuine income stream, hunting for items to upcycle and flip, not just clearing out the garage.

What it pays: Depends entirely on what you're selling and how much effort you put in, but with the average household holding over a grand in sellable stuff, this is often the easiest hustle to start today, for free.

How to start: List what you already own on Trade Me, Facebook Marketplace, or (for clothing) Designer Wardrobe or Depop. Once you've got the hang of pricing and photographing well, look at sourcing - op shops, garage sales, clearance racks - to try and flip for a profit.

3. Renting out a room or a car park

If UGC and reselling are "active" hustles, this is the closest thing to passive. A spare room can bring in $200+ a week. An unused driveway or car park can earn up to $300 a month - genuinely useful if you're near a hospital, university, or town centre where parking is tight.

What it pays: Genuinely variable depending on the asset and your location, but it's often the best return-on-effort of any hustle here, because you're not trading hours for dollars - you're monetising something that was just sitting there.

How to start: List a spare room via Trade Me or local Facebook groups, or a car park via an app like Parkable.

4. Pet sitting, dog walking and house sitting

Straightforward, low-stress, and there's steady demand - especially over summer and school holidays.

What it pays: Current NZ pricing guides put dog walking at $28-$45 in the main centres, half-day daycare around $45-$65, and overnight boarding at $55-$95 a night. Rates are generally higher in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown than in smaller towns.

How to start: Local Facebook community groups are often the fastest way in, alongside pet-sitting apps and house-sitting platforms. No qualifications needed - just reliability and a genuine soft spot for other people's chaos (animal or human).

5. Gig and delivery work

If you're after extra money and an excuse to get out of the house for a bit, this is it. Sign up to a delivery platform like Uber Eats, use your own car, scooter, or bike, and get paid per delivery - no interview, no roster, just a background check to clear first.

What it pays: Roughly $21–$32 an hour for Uber Eats work (the main platform here, alongside Delivereasy in some areas) but that's the headline rate, before fuel and vehicle wear, and it's not a flat hourly wage. Earnings lean heavily on surge periods (Friday/Saturday nights, big events) rather than steady all-day driving, so the real hourly take can dip well below that range outside peak times. Task-based platforms for odd jobs: furniture assembly, moving help also exist in NZ and can pay well per task if you've got a specific skill, though they're less established here than in Australia.

How to start: Pay attention to when demand peaks in your area rather than just logging on whenever suits. This is the easiest hustle to start literally today, though it's also the one where costs and inconsistent hours eat into earnings fastest, so it's worth tracking your actual take-home, not just the headline rate.

6. Tutoring

There's steady demand for this, particularly around NCEA subjects, English language support, and workplace skills like Excel or basic bookkeeping.

What it pays: Most NZ tutors charge $25–$45 an hour for core subjects, with specialist areas: languages, law, music reaching $45–$50+ once you've built a reputation.

How to start: Post in local Facebook groups or reach out to schools directly. You don't need to be a qualified teacher - you need to be genuinely good at something and patient enough to explain it twice.

7. A local service

Cleaning, gardening, and handyman work are the reliable, evergreen side hustles. They can have steady demand and are low barrier to start. Once you've got a few regular clients, specialising in one thing (like end-of-tenancy cleans) can help you charge more than a generalist would.

What it pays: Gardening and handyman work charged directly to customers typically runs $35–$80 an hour, with specialist jobs: hedge trimming, pruning, tricky repairs, sometimes reaching $100+. Pricing by the job (not the hour) tends to reward the specialists most.

How to start: Tell your neighbours and post in a local Facebook group with a clear price per job. A couple of good reviews from friends or family goes further than you'd think - most people would rather hire someone they've heard of than a stranger off an app. This is the slowest hustle to build but often the most durable, because repeat clients are gold.

8. Handmade goods and markets

If you already bake, knit, paint, or make things for fun, this is the hustle that's basically half-started already. Candles, jewellery, baked goods, art - there's a genuine NZ appetite for locally made things, both at markets and online.

What it pays: Wildly variable. Some people cover their coffee habit; others build a proper small business.

How to start: These days, most people start with an Instagram or TikTok account before anything else - it's free, it's where people discover local makers, and it works as your portfolio while you figure out if there's demand. A local farmers' or craft market stall is the next easiest step, letting you test whether people will actually pay for what you make before you invest in a proper online shop.

9. Freelancing and virtual assistant work

If you've already got a skill from your day job - writing, design, admin, social media, bookkeeping, if you're already good at one of these for work, you can freelance it on the side.

What it pays: Virtual assistant work typically runs $35–$60 an hour; specialist freelancing (design, copy, strategy) can be $40-$100+ depending on experience.

How to start: NZ-specific freelance and contract job boards are a good first stop, alongside general platforms like Upwork or Fiverr if you're happy to compete more broadly.

Three to approach with real caution

Not every "side hustle" trending online is one worth your time or money:

• Day-trading or crypto trading: treating markets like a part-time job rather than a long-term strategy is a fast way to lose money, not make it.
• Dropshipping: the margins are thinner and the competition fiercer than most "how I made $10k" videos let on.
• Generic print-on-demand: saturated, low-margin, and increasingly automated by people with far bigger budgets than a side hustler.

Don't forget the boring bit: tax

Side hustle income is still income, and it needs to be declared to IRD. A few basics:

• You don't need to set up a company or formally register as a sole trader. Most people simply use their existing IRD number and declare their self-employed income in their annual tax return.
• Keep good records of what you earn and any business expenses, as these can often be claimed as tax deductions.
• Your side-hustle income is added to your other taxable income and taxed at your marginal tax rate. It isn't taxed as "secondary income" — that's a common misconception. IRD's website has current tax rates and calculators to help estimate how much tax you may need to set aside.
• If you're self-employed, you'll generally need to pay ACC levies on your self-employed earnings. The amount depends on your income and the type of work you do.
• If your side hustle grows, you may need to register for GST once your taxable supplies exceed the GST registration threshold over a 12-month period, so it's worth keeping an eye on your turnover.

IRD has a helpful guide for self-employed people if you're unsure whether your side hustle counts as a business or want more information on your tax obligations.

FAQs

Do I have to pay tax on a side hustle in New Zealand?

Generally, yes. If you're earning taxable income from a side hustle, you'll need to declare it to IRD, even if you also have a full-time job.

Do I need to pay tax if I'm just selling my own stuff?

Usually not. Selling personal belongings you already own isn't generally taxable. But if you're regularly buying items to resell for a profit—or you're effectively running a business—the income is likely to be taxable. There's no minimum dollar amount that makes it tax-free.

What's the best side hustle if I've got no money to start with?

UGC content creation, reselling items you already own, pet sitting, and tutoring are all great options because they can be started with little to no upfront cost.

Which side hustle pays the most per hour?

It depends on your skills, but specialist freelancing, tutoring once you're established, and specialised local services often command the highest hourly rates. If you already have a spare room, renting it out can also deliver a very strong return for relatively little ongoing effort.

*This content is for informational purposes and should not be considered financial advice. Kōura Wealth Limited is the issuer and manager of the Kōura KiwiSaver Scheme. A copy of the Product Disclosure Statement is available at http://www.kourawealth.co.nz/pds