New Zealand Immigration news (New Zealand Immigration News)

NZ releases 50,000 permanent residency places for 2009/10

Graham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:54:05 +0000

The New Zealand Immigration authorities have released 45,000 to 50,000 permanent residency places for the coming year.

This figure is identical to the number of places released last year, 2008/9. The number of places available for people to emigrate to New Zealand permanently is reviewed each year (on June 30) by the New Zealand cabinet.

The NZ Residence Programme (NZRP) then records all the cabinet’s policies for that year, in order to meet ongoing skills requirements and humanitarian commitments.

The number of places available comprises:

§ The Skilled/Business stream (26,800-29-950 places)

§ The Family-Sponsored Stream for adult relatives (4,950-5,500 places)

§ The Family-Sponsored Stream for partners and dependent children (uncapped, but estimated to number around 9,900-10,700)

§ The International/Humanitarian Stream (3,350-3,850 places)

NZ bouncing back from credit crunch?

Graham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:47:14 +0000

New Zealand may already be bouncing back from the credit crunch, a government valuation agency reports.

Growth in emigration to New Zealand was at its highest for two years in May and house sales have risen by 44%, with even house prices rising by 0.4%. This upturn is apparently due to greater confidence in the economy, resulting from policies such as reduction of mortgage and interest rates by the New Zealand Reserve Bank.

The upturn follows a much less optimistic period in which house sales dropped to a record low in January, and prices in March were 9.3 percent less than in March 2008, however this in itself may have stimulated the upturn.

Thus those considering a move to New Zealand might find conditions optimal now, whilst so many economic incentives are present.

NZ immigrant job market still thriving despite claims

Graham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:43:22 +0000

Skilled migrants in New Zealand are still highly valued and successful in employment, despite current ‘credit crunch’ claims in the press.

The UK’s Daily Mail reports that migrants on temporary visas are being refused permanent residency as it is necessary to prioritise employment for native New Zealanders when jobs are scarce.

However employment in New Zealand is booming, and all those with occupations on the ‘Skills in Demand’ list are still being welcomed to New Zealand.

Only a few occupations have been removed from the list, unsurprising where New Zealand’s successful economy is able to fill job shortages swiftly.

Unemployment rates are similar to those of the past decade, and have not changed significantly.

Especially, migrants holding or applying for permanent visas will have excellent chances of finding employment. Those on temporary visas which have not yet been made permanent should proceed with caution but there is no cause for alarm.

On the contrary, around 20,000 skilled Britons went to New Zealand to work in 2008, and are thriving in their employment overseas.

The impetus for the unjustified panic appears to be the return of native Kiwis who had been working abroad, but due to the credit crunch had been unable to find further work overseas. However employment minister Paula Bennett says that more than 3,000 of the 26,000 Kiwis who returned in 2008 ended up on benefits.

New Zealand Immigration service delivery manager Steve Cantlon emphasised that under New Zealand’s ‘Essential Skills’ policy, which brings in trade experts from abroad, the country still has many skills in demand which migrants may supply.

New Zealand visa and immigration policy changes

Graham — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:40:21 +0000

On 27 July New Zealand will introduce visa and immigration changes which will include:

- Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) policy will replace the Transitioning to Recognized Seasonal Employer (TRSE) policy. More detailed information can be found here.

- Introduction of a special Visitor policy for work permit holders who have received a dismissal notice within the 90-day trial period.

New Zealand desperate for Dairy farmers

Graham — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:14:25 +0000

New Zealand’s dairy farmers have been lobbying to have occupations in the dairy industry added to the Immediate Skills Shortage List (ISSL).

According to a press conference from Federated Farmers, dairy farms across New Zealand are in severe need of skilled workers to fill the current void left by an aging workforce and an increase in employees leaving the industry. Federates Farmers Employment spokesperson, Frank Brenmuhl, said that the industry will require roughly 4,000 people to begin working in the dairy farming sector in order to plug the gap.

NZ immigration numbers to remain high despite recession says minister

Graham — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:35:24 +0000

New Zealand has become that latest country to confidently say that its level of migrant intake will remain high despite the global financial meltdown.

Furthermore, in contrast with other in-demand migration destinations, such as its neighbouring Australia, the government has stated that migration New Zealand immigration quotas will not be cut in a bid to avoid the possibility of unemployment among native-born new Zealanders.

Coleman sets sights on improving NZ immigration service

Graham — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:39:40 +0000

Immigration minister Jonathan Coleman has pledged to request money ahead of the next budget in order to improve the performance of the New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS).

Coleman’s announcement comes in the wake of a report published by the Auditor-General, which states that 20 per cent of decisions made by the NZIS were deemed to be questionable or poor. Moreover, the present computer system used by the immigration service is barely able to store basic information.

Why is New Zealand a dream destination for British migrants?

Graham — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:45:22 +0000

New Zealand might be 11,500 miles away, but those who make an effort to move there appear to be the happiest among thousands emigrating every year.

New Zealand is highly rated in all areas; in comparison to other developed countries, it has lower property prices, lower taxes and better weather.

Many interviewed Britons stated that because of those three advantages they were less stressed and could afford a better quality of life. They said that average wages are lower, but because of lower taxation earnings go further.

New job hunting tool for working holiday makers

Graham — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:23:47 +0000

The New Zealand immigration department designed the new web tool to make it easier for employers to find New Zealand holiday makers who want to work during the peak months of the year.

The 'Magnet technology' targets people with desirable skills and encourages them to travel to New Zealand. The website will help potential employees to find a job and at the same time will act as a free database for employers who seek skilled temporary workers.

Changes to the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL)

Graham — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:05:13 +0000

As the result of the biannual review of the Immediate Skill Shortage List, 44 occupations were removed from the list. Head of Immigration, Andrew Annakin, said that the move, which left ISSL with 87 occupations, indicates the scale of change New Zealand’s economy has undergone in the past months.

"Occupations which were identified as readily trainable and those for which New Zealanders may be available were reviewed for removal. In this time of economic uncertainty, these types of occupations were prioritised for review to ensure opportunities for New Zealanders. That said, there will be ongoing review of all occupations on the list."