When the cost of living keeps rising and time feels tighter than ever, many Kiwi women are looking for new ways to earn extra income without giving up family time or flexibility, and are asking themselves ‘how to find a side hustle’. Across New Zealand, women are turning to side hustles that fit around school hours, full-time jobs, or busy households – small ventures that start at the kitchen table, spare room or garage, but can grow into reliable second incomes.
So here, with the support of our pals Warehouse Stationery who, by absolute coincidence, have everything you need to get going with your side hustle quest, we’re looking at three of the most popular modern options in Aotearoa right now: virtual assistant work, freelancing, and creating user-generated content, known as UGC. Each offers the freedom to work from home, set your own hours, and use skills you already have – whether that’s writing, organisation, or creativity. These aren’t get-rich-quick schemes; they’re practical, sustainable ways to earn more while keeping control of your time.
1. Virtual Assistant (VA) Work
When many Kiwi women hear the term “virtual assistant,” they think of an office job that somehow exists online, and to be honest, it’s not far from the truth. A virtual assistant helps small businesses or individuals with admin, organisation, and communication, but does it remotely.
It’s a perfect fit for women who’ve worked in admin, customer service, or management – or, to be fair, all mothers because they know how to get sh*t DONE – and want flexible hours from home. A VA might manage emails, book appointments, prepare invoices, or schedule social media posts. Some specialise in bookkeeping or event planning; others help with website updates or customer messages.
How to become a Virtual Assistant:
To start, identify what kind of help you can offer. If you’ve worked in offices, start with admin support. If you’re confident on Canva and Instagram, you can focus on social media. The next step is to learn the basic tools: Google Workspace, Canva, Zoom, Trello, and perhaps Xero or Hnry for managing finances and tax (trust us on this one – five years into running this business we live in fear of the IRD and it’s served us well!).
Creating a short online profile or portfolio is easy using Canva or LinkedIn. Registering as a sole trader through Inland Revenue is free, and tools like Hnry automatically handle income tax and invoicing.
And then it comes to the hard part – finding clients. In a classic New Zealand approach, it’s often who you know – and if your network isn’t helping, join another one. Finding clients often happens through New Zealand Facebook groups such as Virtual Assistant Network NZ and on local contract sites like TheResource.nz, unicornfactory.nz and needed.co.nz. Many VA jobs also appear under the “Contract/Temp” section of Seek.
You can even approach small businesses directly (in 2025, shocking, we know, but the personal touch oftentimes makes all the difference!) – cafés, real estate agents, and coaches frequently need admin help.
Kiwi VAs generally charge between $35 and $60 an hour. Some offer monthly packages, such as ten hours for a set price. The key to building a client base is reliability and communication.
In Nelson, for example, Capsule reader Jade started doing admin work for a real estate agent while on maternity leave. Within a year, she was working about fifteen hours a week for three local clients, earning around $1,500 a month from home. It’s flexible, practical, and achievable for many New Zealand women.
2. Freelancing
Freelancing simply means working for yourself and selling your skills to different clients. It’s ideal for anyone who can write, design, edit, market, or manage digital projects. Many small New Zealand businesses prefer hiring freelancers because they only pay for what they need.
How to become a freelancer:
To begin, decide what service you want to offer – writing, social media, admin, marketing, or design. Create a small portfolio using Canva that shows examples of your work. You can share this as a PDF or as posts on LinkedIn.
Start looking for opportunities locally first – the same websites above will be super-helpful, as is general word of mouth. Make sure you’re advertising your services on your own social media channels, and have business cards handy for any chance meetings where you can sniff out an opportunity (may we suggest popping to Warehouse Stationery to print them?!)
Once you get your first job, keep communication clear and meet deadlines. Freelancing in New Zealand can pay anywhere from $40 to $100 an hour depending on skill. It can grow quickly if you specialise in a niche area.
As we know all too well, freelancing requires self-discipline and good time management, but the freedom to choose projects and work remotely makes it a realistic path for many women who need to be their own boss, but also pull in the $.
3. User-Generated Content (UGC)
User-Generated Content is one of the newest and fastest-growing ways to earn money online in New Zealand. It’s not the same as being an influencer – you don’t need a big following. Instead, brands pay ordinary people to create short, authentic videos or photos featuring their products.
How to start in UCG:
UGC works well for people who are comfortable speaking on camera or demonstrating products they genuinely use. For example, you might film a 20-second video showing how you clean with a new eco spray, or a casual clip of you using a skincare product. The brand buys your content and uses it for their ads or social media.
To start, film three or four short sample videos using products you already have. Keep them natural, friendly, and in good lighting. Save them in a folder or create a simple online portfolio using Notion or Canva.
Next, reach out to brands you actually like – particularly smaller NZ companies in skincare, baby products, food, or sustainable goods. You can email them directly or connect through sites like Collabstr or Facebook groups such as Creator Collab UGC.
Rates vary depending on usage rights. Many beginners charge $100 to $200 per video, while experienced creators can earn $300 to $500 for videos used in paid ads.
UGC suits anyone who wants creative, flexible work without a set schedule. It can sit alongside freelancing or VA work and grow quickly once you have a few examples to show.
Each of these side hustles is achievable for New Zealand women who want to earn extra money and maintain family balance, or simply create some independence and balance around work, family and personal goals. Virtual assistant work offers stability, freelancing builds independence, and UGC brings creativity. But how do you know which freelance gig is right for you?
1. Start with your life, not just your skills
The best side hustle fits your lifestyle first. Ask yourself a few grounding questions:
- How many hours can I realistically commit each week?
- Do I want to work from home, or am I open to something local?
- Do I need quick cash flow, or am I building something long-term?
- What skills, hobbies, or experiences do I already have that others value?
Knowing your time, energy, and environment helps you pick something sustainable rather than stressful.
2. Explore what’s already working in New Zealand
Before diving in, see what other Kiwis are doing successfully. Some strong side hustle trends in NZ right now, apart from the ones above, include:
- Online tutoring for NCEA or English language learners
- Home-based baking, crafts, or small product sales
- Online reselling on Trade Me, Designer Wardrobe, or Facebook Marketplace
- Gardening, flowers, or produce sales
- Airbnb or holiday hosting
- Dog walking, childcare, or local services
3. Test small and learn fast (aka, one of Capsule’s favourite sayings, ‘fail fast and fail cheap’)
You don’t need a big plan or website to begin – start small.
- Offer your skills to a friend’s business in exchange for a testimonial.
- Sell a few handmade items or second-hand clothes online.
- Post a short video sample if you’re exploring UGC.
- Offer your services on your own social accounts, or community pages if they allow self-promotion
Starting small helps you build confidence and gather feedback before investing time or money.
4. Treat it like a mini business
Even a part-time hustle is still a business, and a bit of structure helps it grow smoothly.
- Register as a sole trader on the IRD website (it’s free).
- Use tools like Hnry or Xero to manage income and tax easily.
- Keep a basic record of your earnings and expenses.
- Create a simple online presence – even just a Facebook page or LinkedIn profile.
This approach makes your side hustle more professional and helps you grow from casual jobs to consistent clients.
5. Learn from other Kiwi women
New Zealand has a strong, supportive small business community. Many women share their stories and advice openly on social media and podcasts. Look for inspiration in:
- Podcasts like She Owns It NZ or The Female Career
- Our own career hub Instagram channel, Drive to Succeed!
- Local networks such as She Owns It, Women and Business NZ, NZ Business Women or Girls in Business
Learning from people who’ve already built side hustles here gives you realistic expectations and local insight.
6. Think long-term
A side hustle can start as a few hours a week and grow into something much bigger. Many Kiwi women who began freelancing, baking, or selling online have turned those projects into full-time incomes or small brands.
The key is consistency – one client, one sale, or one project at a time. It’s about building momentum and trust, not instant success.