Places to work?

You'd need to get sponsored for a visa to work in the U.S. (or at least I do and I'm from the U.K.). I got what is called a H2B visa which is for seasonal workers, they are not that hard to get you just need to find a job first. You could apply as pretty much anything, but most resorts seem to sponsor a lot of instructors and a few lifties as well.

Good mountains to work for depend on your job, but I'd go with a resort in the west - Colorado (such as Aspen, Vail, Copper, Breck, Winter Park) , Utah (Park City, Alta, Snowbird) or California (Heavenly, Squaw, Mammoth). Check out the resort websites for available jobs.

It's easier to get a visa for Canada as you can a working tourist visa without already having a job, then just turn up and look for jobs.

big white and silverstar in B.C. pretty much goes to nz and aus looking for employees.   like 70% of the mountains staff is from there, and it's a really chill environment.   good skiing too!

boreal has a bunch of russians working there so i really doubt they wouldnt drop a commie or 2 for a new zealender

i dunno if this applies to you but others may be interested... if you're first year out of uni you can apply for an educational visa for 6 months for canada. i know this works from the uk, i'm pretty sure should be the same deal from nz etc.