Food delivery is available in most NZ cities via Uber Eats, Delivereasy and DoorDash. Vehicle costs depend on how you deliver: a bicycle or e-bike has no fuel cost.
What food delivery pays in NZ depends on the platform's pay for each offer, your area, the time of day and your vehicle costs. All income is taxable, and whether you are a contractor or an employee depends on the real nature of your relationship with the platform.
Platforms Available in NZ (2026)
| Platform | Coverage | Vehicle Types |
|---|---|---|
| Uber Eats | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and more | Car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle |
| Delivereasy | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin, and around 50 other NZ towns and cities | Car, motorbike, scooter, bike |
| DoorDash | Over 25 NZ cities, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Dunedin and other regional cities | Car, scooter or moped, bicycle |
Menulog entered and exited the NZ market — it ceased its New Zealand operations in May 2024 and is not currently operating in NZ.
How Food Delivery Pay Works
Each platform sets its own pay. DoorDash, for example, says its base pay for an offer is based on the estimated time, distance and desirability of the offer. Your effective hourly rate depends on:
- Order frequency in your zone
- Distance efficiency
- Peak vs off-peak timing
- Your vehicle type
Peak Hours and Zones
DoorDash says promotions like Peak Pay, Challenges, Delivery Streaks and Boosts can give Dashers more opportunities to earn. Whether and when they apply varies by platform and area.
Tax and Compliance for Delivery Workers
Self-Employed Status
Delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and Delivereasy may engage workers as self-employed contractors, but whether you are a contractor or an employee depends on the real nature of the relationship, not the label. In November 2025 the Supreme Court found that four Uber drivers were employees, and the parties agreed the Uber Eats platform was not relevantly distinguishable from the Uber rides platform. If you are treated as a contractor, this means:
- You declare income in your IR3 annual tax return
- No PAYE is withheld — you are responsible for tax payments
- Set money aside for income tax from day one: it is charged on your profit after allowable expenses
GST
Registration is compulsory if your turnover from this work (your taxable activity) was at least $60,000 in the last 12 months, or you expect it to be at least $60,000 in the next 12 months.
ACC for Delivery Workers
Whether food delivery platform workers are employees or contractors has been contested in NZ:
- If you are self-employed or a contractor, ACC places you on CoverPlus automatically and you pay levies on its invoice
This is a fast-moving area of NZ employment and ACC law. Check current ACC guidance at acc.co.nz.
E-Bike Delivery: The Business Case
An e-bike setup for delivery in NZ:
- E-bike: a once-off purchase
- Maintenance: servicing and replacement parts
Compared to a car, a bike avoids fuel, depreciation and vehicle insurance costs.
Is Food Delivery Worth It in NZ?
| Use Case | What to weigh |
|---|---|
| Supplement income (10–15 hrs/week) | Net pay depends on the platform’s pay per offer and your vehicle costs |
| Full-time (40+ hrs/week) | Can be physically demanding; net pay depends on the same factors |
| Student or casual work | Hours are flexible |