An oil and gas firm is planning to put labouring and construction jobs up for grabs in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and the East Coast.
TAG Oil has contracted American company Apache Corporation to drill on land early next year.
But the venture says it won't be barging into the area without having many discussions with local people, especially Maori.
Construction workers will be needed to build new access roads to drill rig sites.
TAG Oil chief operating officer Drew Cadenhead says there will also be opportunities to work on the drill rigs.
He says people can start at the bottom as a roughneck and work their way up into well-paid positions.
Mr Cadenhead says for every 10 holes drilled, nine are dry.