Emigration New Zealand

  • Visas
  • Our Advisors
  • Testimonials
  • Book Consultation
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Australia

MUST READ – New Zealand immigration changes announced!

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 by Intergate Emigration
new zealand immigration changes

new zealand immigration changesNew Zealand Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced on 19 April 2017 that New Zealand will make a host of changes to their immigration policy to better manage immigration and improve the long-term labour market contribution of temporary and permanent migration.

The official statement

The official statement from Minister Woodhouse is as follows:

“The Government is committed to ensuring inward migration best supports the economy and the labour market. It’s important that our immigration settings are attracting the right people, with the right skills, to help fill genuine skill shortages and contribute to our growing economy.
 
That is why we are making a number of changes to our permanent and temporary immigration settings aimed at managing the number and improving the quality of migrants coming to New Zealand.”

Changes to permanent immigration settings include introducing two remuneration thresholds for applicants applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), which will complement the current qualifications and occupation framework.

“One remuneration threshold will be set at the New Zealand median income of $48,859 a year for jobs that are currently considered skilled. The other threshold will be set at 1.5 times the New Zealand median income of $73,299 a year for jobs that are not currently considered skilled but are well paid,” Mr Woodhouse says.
 
The SMC points table, under which individuals claim points towards their residence application, will also be realigned to put more emphasis on characteristics associated with better outcomes for migrants.
 
Collectively these changes will improve the skill composition of the SMC and ensure we are attracting migrants who bring the most economic benefits to New Zealand.”

Other changes

The New Zealand government is also proposing a number of changes to temporary migration to manage the number and settlement expectations of new migrants coming to New Zealand on Essential Skills work visas.

These changes include:

  • The introduction of remuneration bands to determine the skill level of an Essential Skills visa holder, which would align with the remuneration thresholds being introduced for Skilled Migrant Category applicants
  • The introduction of a maximum duration of three years for lower-skilled and lower-paid Essential Skills visa holders, after which a minimum stand down period will apply before they are eligible for another lower-skilled temporary work visa.
  • Aligning the ability of Essential Skills visa holders to bring their children and partners to New Zealand with the new skill levels.
  • Exploring which occupations have a seasonal nature and ensuring that the length of the visa aligns with peak labour demand.

Closing words from Minister Woodhouse

Minister Woodhouse ended off his announcement with the following:

“I want to make it clear that where there are genuine labour or skills shortages, employers will be able to continue to use migrant labour to fill those jobs.
 
However, the Government has a Kiwis first approach to immigration and these changes are designed to strike the right balance between reinforcing the temporary nature of Essential Skills work visas and encouraging employers to take on more Kiwis and invest in the training to upskill them.
 
We have always said that we constantly review our immigration policies to ensure they are fit for purpose and today’s announcement is another example of this Government’s responsible, pragmatic approach to managing immigration.”

What happens now?

Public consultation on the changes to temporary migration settings closes on 21 May 2017, with implementation planned for later this year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Facebook to keep up with future developments.

Read more
  • Published in News, Working in New Zealand
No Comments

Recent Posts

  • 10 Top New Zealand recruitment agencies

    You could look for a job in New Zealand on your...
  • Partner Work Visa changes coming in April 2023

    In December 2022, Immigration New Zealand was s...
  • Emigration to New Zealand: 9 Tips for setting yourself up for success

    Do you have your heart set on emigration to New...
  • Green List and Employer Accreditation changes announced

    On 12 December 2022, New Zealand announced chan...
  • New Zealand work visas: These are your options

    Did you know there are five New Zealand work vi...

Archives

  • Feb 2023
  • Jan 2023
  • Dec 2022
  • Nov 2022
  • Oct 2022
  • Sep 2022
  • Jul 2022
  • Jun 2022
  • May 2022
  • Apr 2022
  • Mar 2022
  • Feb 2022
  • Jan 2022
  • Nov 2021
  • Oct 2021
  • Sep 2021
  • Aug 2021
  • Jul 2021
  • Jun 2021
  • May 2021
  • Apr 2021
  • Mar 2021
  • Feb 2021
  • Jan 2021
  • Nov 2020
  • Oct 2020
  • Sep 2020
  • Aug 2020
  • Jul 2020
  • Jun 2020
  • May 2020
  • Apr 2020
  • Mar 2020
  • Feb 2020
  • Jan 2020
  • Dec 2019
  • Nov 2019
  • Oct 2019
  • Sep 2019
  • Aug 2019
  • Jul 2019
  • Jun 2019
  • May 2019
  • Mar 2019
  • Feb 2019
  • Nov 2018
  • Oct 2018
  • Sep 2018
  • Jul 2018
  • Jun 2018
  • Apr 2018
  • Feb 2018
  • Dec 2017
  • Nov 2017
  • Oct 2017
  • Sep 2017
  • Aug 2017
  • Jul 2017
  • May 2017
  • Apr 2017
  • Jan 2017
  • Dec 2016

Categories

  • Family Immigration
  • FAQs – New Zealand Immigration
  • Latest posts
  • Life in New Zealand
  • New Zealand Immigration Advice
  • News
  • Tips for Your Move to New Zealand
  • Uncategorised
  • Work Visas for New Zealand
  • Working in New Zealand
  • Your Visa Application

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Hamburg, Germany

Kallmorgenweg 1

Groß Flottbek

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Zürich, Switzerland

Spyristrasse 8

+49 (0) 40 896 987 13 

Cape Town, South Africa

Graphic Centre

199 Loop Street

+27 (0) 21 202 8200

Email:

info@intergate-emigration.com

Licenses:

Our advisors are licensed and registered to give immigration advice New Zealand. Our Immigration Adviser Authority numbers are 201400975 and 201600505, and our Licensed Immigration Adviser Association number is 220104. Our advisors are also authorized under §1 AuswSG in Germany.

Copyright © 2023 Intergate Emigration. All rights reserved. 

TOP