Free CV Template NZ: Downloads and How to Fill One In

A good CV template takes the guesswork out of job hunting: it gives you a clean, employer-ready layout so you can focus on what you actually did rather than on margins and fonts. In New Zealand the document is almost always called a CV (short for curriculum vitae), though you will see the word “resume” used interchangeably. This guide shows where to download a genuinely free CV template in New Zealand, which format suits your situation, and exactly how to fill in each section the way Kiwi employers expect.

What is a CV, and is it the same as a resume in NZ?

A CV is a short written document that sets out your contact details, work history, skills, education and achievements so an employer can quickly see whether you match a role. In the United States a “resume” and a “CV” can mean slightly different things, but in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia the two words are used for the same thing — a one-to-three-page job-application summary. If a New Zealand job ad asks for either, it wants the same document.

Most New Zealand employers expect a focused document of one to two pages for early-career applicants, and up to three pages for people with long or senior careers. The goal is not to list everything you have ever done; it is to show, at a glance, that you can do the job being advertised.

Where to download a free CV template in NZ

You do not need to pay for a CV template. Several safe, well-known sources offer free, editable templates you can open in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or OpenOffice. The sources below are all legitimate — avoid random sites that ask for payment or a sign-up before they let you download a basic layout.

Tāhatū Career Navigator (free, government-run)

The most reliable New Zealand source is Tāhatū Career Navigator, the government careers service that replaced the long-running careers.govt.nz site. (The old careers.govt.nz CV Builder tool was retired on 18 September 2025, so any guide still pointing you there is out of date.) Tāhatū provides four free downloads as Word (.docx) files: a skills-focused CV template and example, and a work-focused CV template and example. Because they come from a public service rather than a commercial site, they are free of upsells and are written specifically for the New Zealand job market.

Microsoft, Google Docs and Canva

If you prefer a more designed look, three mainstream tools offer large free libraries:

• Microsoft Create hosts dozens of free resume and cover-letter templates that open in Word (including the free browser version). You can fill one in with the free online version of Word if you do not own the desktop app.
• Google Docs has a built-in template gallery — open Google Docs, click Template gallery, and choose one of the résumé layouts. Everything saves to your Google Drive and can be exported to PDF or Word.
• Canva offers hundreds of free CV templates with drag-and-drop editing, which suits creative and design roles. Keep the layout simple if you are applying through an online system that scans your CV.

LibreOffice and OpenOffice templates

If you use a free desktop office suite, you can build a CV without touching a web tool at all. LibreOffice’s official extensions and templates repository includes several ready-made curriculum vitae layouts you can download and open locally. The same documents work in OpenOffice Writer, so you can edit entirely offline and keep your personal details on your own computer. If you do not have a suite installed yet, see our guide to downloading OpenOffice safely.

Work and Income support

Work and Income (MSD) does not publish its own template, but it points job seekers to two free services: the Auckland Business Chamber’s “Build my CV” service, open to people receiving Jobseeker Support or Sole Parent Support, and the Te Heke Mai CV Builder app, which is open to all New Zealanders. These are useful if you want guided, step-by-step help rather than a blank template.

Which CV format should you choose?

There are two main CV formats in New Zealand, and the right one depends on your work history rather than on personal taste.

Work-focused (reverse-chronological)

A work-focused CV lists your jobs starting with the most recent and working backwards. It is the format most New Zealand employers expect, and it suits people who have steady work experience, are changing jobs within the same field, or are stepping up to the next stage of a career. The main benefit is clarity: a recruiter can follow your career path in seconds.

Skills-focused (functional)

A skills-focused CV leads with your abilities and groups your experience under skill headings rather than under job titles. It suits school leavers, people with little or no paid work experience, people returning to work, and anyone with gaps in their history that a strict timeline would highlight. You still include a work-history section, but it sits lower down and can be brief.

If you are unsure, start with the work-focused template — it is the safer default — and switch to skills-focused only if a timeline would work against you.

What to put in each section of your CV

Tāhatū recommends a clear running order of sections. Fill them in from the top down, and remember that everything should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for.

Name and contact details

Put your full name, phone number and a professional email address at the top. A link to a LinkedIn profile or online portfolio is fine. You do not need a full street address — a suburb or city is enough. Do not include your date of birth, marital status, religion, passport number or a photo unless a job ad specifically asks for one; New Zealand employers neither expect nor want these, and leaving them out helps avoid unconscious bias.

Personal statement (profile)

Write two or three sentences summarising who you are professionally and what you are looking for. Keep it specific and positive — name the role or field, your strongest skills and one standout achievement. Rewrite this short paragraph for each application so it echoes the language in the job ad.

Key skills

List the skills most relevant to the role, ideally mirroring the words the employer used. It helps to separate technical skills (software, machinery, certifications, specific methods) from soft skills (leadership, communication, problem-solving). Languages belong here too, and te reo Māori is increasingly valued by New Zealand employers.

Work history

For each role, give your job title, the employer, the location and the dates. Under each, add a few bullet points that start with action verbs — “managed”, “built”, “reduced”, “led” — and focus on results and achievements rather than a list of duties. Numbers make these points stronger (“cut processing time by 20%”). Include relevant volunteering and internships, which count as genuine experience in New Zealand.

Education and qualifications

List your qualifications with the most recent first. If you have been working for more than about five years, this section sits near the bottom; if you are a recent graduate or school leaver, move it higher because it is your strongest selling point. Include NCEA levels, degrees, trade certificates and any current licences or registrations.

Interests (optional)

A short interests line can add personality, but only include it if space allows and the interests say something useful about you. Skip generic filler such as “watching TV” or “socialising with friends”.

Referees

Standard New Zealand practice is to offer two referees, usually recent managers or supervisors. You can list their name, relationship to you and contact details, or simply write “Referees available on request” and supply them when asked. Always ask people before you name them, and keep their details off any version of your CV you post publicly.

How to fill in and format your CV

Once you have chosen a template, a few formatting habits make the difference between a CV that gets read and one that gets skimmed past:

• Use a plain, readable font such as Calibri or Arial at around 11 point, with clear bold headings.
• Keep it scannable with bullet points, short sentences and plenty of white space rather than dense blocks of text.
• Tailor every copy. Change the personal statement, key skills and the order of bullet points to match each job ad; recruiters and automated screening systems both look for the ad’s keywords.
• Stay consistent with dates, spacing, tense and formatting throughout — inconsistency reads as carelessness.
• Proofread twice and ask someone else to read it. Spelling and grammar mistakes are the fastest way to lose a shortlisting.

If your template was built in a desktop suite, the same file formats apply as with any other document — you can learn more about the open ODT format and how office suites compare if you want to understand what you are saving.

How to save and send your CV: PDF or Word?

Send a PDF unless the employer or recruiter specifically asks for a Word document. A PDF keeps your layout exactly as you designed it on every device, whereas a .docx can shift fonts and spacing when it opens on someone else’s computer. Some recruitment agencies, however, prefer an editable Word file so they can add their own branding — always follow the instructions in the job ad.

Every tool mentioned here can export to PDF. If you built your CV in a free desktop suite, our guide on converting ODT files to PDF covers the safest ways to do it. Name the file clearly — something like Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf — so it is easy for an employer to find later.

Common CV mistakes to avoid

Even with a good template, the same errors cost people interviews again and again:

• Sending the same CV everywhere. A generic CV rarely matches the job; tailoring it is the single biggest improvement you can make.
• Listing duties instead of achievements. “Responsible for stock” says little; “reduced stock wastage by 15%” shows impact.
• Including unnecessary personal details such as a photo, age, marital status or ID numbers, which NZ employers do not ask for.
• Letting it run too long. Three pages of relevant detail is fine for a senior role, but padding an entry-level CV to fill space works against you.
• An unprofessional email address or outdated phone number — check your contact details actually work.
• Overusing AI word for word. AI tools can help you draft, but employers can spot generic output; always edit it into your own voice with real examples.

Who each template suits

Choosing a source comes down to how much design you want and how you prefer to work. The government Tāhatū templates are the best starting point for most people because they are free, NZ-specific and free of distractions. Microsoft and Google Docs templates suit anyone who already lives in those tools and wants a tidy, standard look. Canva suits creative applicants who want a designed CV — but keep it clean for roles screened by software. LibreOffice and OpenOffice templates suit anyone who wants to work entirely offline and keep their personal information on their own device. If you need guided help rather than a blank page, the Work and Income referrals and the Te Heke Mai app are built for that.

Whichever you choose, treat the template as a starting frame, not a finished product. For other everyday office documents, the same download-and-fill approach applies — see our NZ timesheet template and free NZ budget template guides for more ready-made starting points.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is a CV the same as a resume in New Zealand?

Yes. In New Zealand the words “CV” and “resume” are used for the same one-to-three-page job-application document. New Zealand employers most often say “CV”, so if an ad uses either term, send the same thing: a concise summary of your skills, work history and education tailored to the role.

Where can I get a genuinely free CV template in NZ?

The government’s Tāhatū Career Navigator offers free skills-focused and work-focused CV templates as Word files, and they are written for the New Zealand job market. Microsoft Create, the Google Docs template gallery, Canva and the LibreOffice templates repository all offer free layouts as well. Avoid sites that demand payment for a basic template.

How long should a New Zealand CV be?

Aim for one to two pages if you are early in your career, and up to three pages if you have a long or senior work history. Length matters less than relevance: include what matches the job ad and cut anything that does not. A focused two-page CV almost always beats a padded three-page one.

Should I include a photo, my age or references on my CV?

No. New Zealand employers do not expect a photo, date of birth, marital status or ID numbers, and leaving them out helps reduce bias. List two referees, or write “Referees available on request” and provide their details when the employer asks — after you have checked the referees are happy to be named.

Should I send my CV as a PDF or a Word document?

Send a PDF unless the job ad or recruiter asks for Word. A PDF keeps your layout identical on any device, while a Word file can shift when it opens elsewhere. Some agencies prefer an editable Word version so they can rebrand it, so always follow the specific instructions in the advertisement.