How Long Should a Cover Letter Be in NZ?

The short answer for New Zealand: one page maximum. But the nuances matter.

Cover Letter Length by Role Type

• Trades and manual roles: Half a page to one page. These hiring managers are busy. A brief, honest letter is more effective than a long one.
• Professional and technical roles: One page. This is the standard expectation for most NZ professional roles.
• Senior and executive roles: One page, potentially extending to the equivalent of one and a half pages for complex leadership positions where context is important.
• Government roles: Sometimes two pages, particularly if addressing multiple formal selection criteria.

What Goes In One Page

One professional A4 page with 11–12pt font and standard margins holds approximately 400–550 words. That is enough for: a date and greeting, a compelling opening paragraph, two paragraphs of achievement evidence, a closing paragraph expressing specific interest in the company, and a sign-off. You do not need more than this for most NZ roles.

Why Shorter Is Usually Better

Recruiters often review cover letters quickly during initial screening. A focused one-page letter is easier to assess than an unnecessarily long letter, although reading behaviour varies by recruiter and role. Every unnecessary word reduces the impact of the necessary ones.