Side hustle ideas for over 50s in 2025
These days, side hustles are a bit like air fryers. Everyone suddenly seems to have one, and everyone absolutely raves about the benefits.
A side hustle in New Zealand, by definition, is a money-earning job or hobby that you do in addition to your main job (even if that main job is full-time retiree). It can mean extra money in the bank (hello passive income!), but it can also be a great way to contribute to the local community, to learn new skills, or to meet people and socialise .
Our New Zealand Seniors Working Seniors Report showed that almost a quarter (24%) of working over 50s found the idea of working in the gig economy to be very or extremely appealing, so there’s certainly no shortage of interest in picking up a side hustle.
Why should you consider a side hustle after 50?
Our Working Seniors Report found that many seniors have various motivations for continuing to work or hustle in some capacity, such as:
- Maintaining a sense of purpose (59%)
- Avoiding boredom (50%)
- Financial motivations (81%)
- Simply because they enjoy working (65%)
Not to mention, that a side hustle isn’t quite like a full-time job. It’s generally far more enjoyable, considering side gigs are usually more flexible, less stressful, and can be more fun than a ‘traditional’ job.
Popular side hustles for older Kiwis
Not sure where to start? Here are five side hustle business ideas:
Get crafty online
Have you spent a lifetime being crafty? Perhaps spending winter evenings knitting baby booties for friends and family, long weekends painting pet portraits, or lazy afternoons wood carving?
You might be surprised at just how much people are willing to pay for quality, handmade goods.
Take a look at some of the online marketplaces and see what kind of crafts are selling now and how much they are selling for.
The perk here is that you can either make things and sell them as you go, or offer personalised crafts and work as the orders come in. You also have the option of switching your online shop off when you want a break.
Sew and alter your way to satisfaction
Back before fast fashion and online shopping, many had to learn how to repair, sew on buttons, do alterations, and tailor outfits for themselves. However, a lot of those skills have been lost amongst recent generations.
So, if you have a sewing machine at home and a lifetime of doing your own alterations and tailoring, this could be a side hustle idea for you. You could be filling a need in the market driven by younger generations who don’t have the skills (or a sewing machine) to do these tasks themselves.
Put your green thumb to work
If gardening isn’t just a fun hobby for you, but something you’re skilled at as well, then good news – you might have just found your side hustle. Because plenty of people need a hand with their garden and they’re happy to pay for it!
This could mean one-off jobs where you could offer a large clean-up of an outdoor space and setting up a veggie garden, or it could be a weekly job where you stop by for a couple of hours regularly for maintenance work.
Every garden is different, so this is a great side hustle where you can work outside and enjoy plenty of variety as well. And according to our Working Seniors Report, the variety of jobs and how interesting they can be are some of the most appealing aspects of the gig economy.
Inspire young ones as a teacher’s aide
New Zealand is undergoing an ‘unprecedented shortage’ of teachers. And while you need to go and train up to become a teacher, you can become a teacher’s aide without needing any specific training or knowledge.
For anyone who loves working with kids and wants to help pass on knowledge to the next generation, this could be the ideal side hustle for you. Your job would be to essentially help the teacher part-time, working with students one-on-one, helping with activities, making lesson plans, and more.
Experience with childcare and/or teaching is a big plus, as is being a parent, having work experience with people with disabilities, or nursing. However, if you have an interest in the job, great communication, and plenty of patience, you might be just what your local school is looking for.
Dog walking
We Kiwis love our pups. In fact, the number of dogs in New Zealand is increasing faster than the number of humans. And all of them need walkies.
While many dog owners are too busy to walk their dogs during workdays, it can offer great opportunities for seniors looking to earn a little cash on the side all whilst getting some exercise and hanging out with man’s best friend.
You could spread the word amongst friends and family, or sign up for a service like to connect with dog owners online.
How to spot and avoid scams targeting seniors
Whether you’re on the lookout for a side hustle or not, you’ve probably seen ads online about earning piles of money easily from home. The problem is, many of these ads and ‘side hustles’ are simply too good to be true, it’s a classic sign of an online scam. It’s important to protect yourself while online, and be weary of any potential scams.
Here are some of the key signs to look out for that indicate scams:
- The offer is too good to be true
- There’s an immediate time limit to create urgency
- The website is poorly designed with little information
- The offer comes from a sender you don’t know
- Someone claiming they have sent you money for your product/services, but the money isn’t in your account (they can easily fake screenshots to claim money has been sent, so don’t believe it until you see it on your end)
Avoiding scams is a case of being aware of the warning signs, and always erring on the side of caution. If in doubt, ignore it, don’t click on it, and even ask a tech-savvy friend for their advice.
Where can you find trustworthy opportunities in NZ?
In order to safely earn extra money through a side hustle, you’ll need to be sure your source of income is trustworthy.
One rule of thumb is to never apply for work with a company that has advertised their ‘side hustle’ role to you, or reached out to you directly. Unless you’re working with a recruiter, great side hustles don’t often just fall into your lap.
Therefore, it’s best to either approach a trusted job source, such as Trade Me jobs or Seek. Or, stick to small jobs where you can meet people in person and build trust, such as with dog walking or gardening. Just remember, there’s no such thing as an easy side hustle! Side hustles are a great way to earn extra money, but they do require you to put in the effort, too.
Inspiration: What could a side hustle look like?
Retirement doesn’t mean slowing down. In fact, many New Zealand seniors are finding fun and rewarding ways to earn extra income, share their skills, and stay socially connected. Here are a few examples:
- The Tutor: Meet Lisa, a retired teacher in Wellington. She now offers online tutoring for high school students a few hours a week, helping them with maths and English while earning extra income and staying connected with young learners.
- The Maker: After retiring, Peter in Auckland turned his love for knitting into a small business. He creates colourful scarves and blankets, selling them online and at local craft markets, enjoying both creative fulfilment and extra cash.
- The Guide: Margaret, a retired tour guide in Queenstown, started leading small, personalised walking tours for visitors. She shares her local knowledge, meets new people, and supplements her pension in a way that feels fun and meaningful.
A side hustle doesn’t have to be full-time or complicated. It can be a chance to use skills, pursue hobbies, and stay socially connected, all while boosting retirement income.
Live for today, but plan for your future
A side hustle can be a great way to earn extra income so you can enjoy life to its fullest now and look out for your family’s finances later. Another way to enjoy peace of mind about your family’s finances is with Seniors Life Insurance.
Seniors Life Insurance from New Zealand Seniors may help to provide a financial cushion for your loved ones, should the unexpected occur. It’s easier to apply for than most jobs (just eight questions over the phone) and we offer a flexible cover amount so you can decide on a benefit that works for you and your loved ones.
29 Sept 2025