Just as a bit of anecdata, I know New Zealand considers WWOOF'ing [1], in which you get accomodation and food in exchange for work, as actual work with compensation, so you need a work visa.
OP, you really should consider making your way here to NZ.
Having said that, Auckland felt like a bit of a technical wasteland... I've heard it's better down in Wellington or Christchurch, but I never regretted moving to San Francisco.