British scope out NZ migration policy
New Zealand officials helped shape a controversial British migration policy introduced last week.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a new pointsbased immigration system would take effect from January 1, 2021, but so far the overhaul has raised concerns, with some employers labelling it ‘‘elitist’’.
Head of Immigration NZ Greg Patchell said the New Zealand skilled migrant points system had been reflected in the Brit plan but it had gone a bit further.
It follows a series of meetings between Immigration NZ and Home Office officials last year.
The meetings, held in London in July and in New Zealand in November, were attended by Patchell and Immigration NZ general manager Stephen Dunstan.
On both occasions they met with Glyn Williams, the Home Office’s director-general for border, immigration and citizenship, who is currently leading the design of the British immigration system after Brexit.
Patchell said Prime Minister Boris Johnson had wanted an Australian-style points system after Brexit: ‘‘Which is effectively a New Zealand system, it is virtually the same thing.’’
The Home Office was ‘‘very interested’’ in the New Zealand points system that was designed to allow expressions of interest to be ranked in order, so that authorities could make invitations for residence to those migrants who could offer the most to New Zealand.
The Brit policy was ‘‘very, very similar’’ to New Zealand’s points system, threshold for salaries, skill levels and a scheme very similar to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, Patchell said.
‘‘New Zealand’s view has been that a merit-based immigration system is a good place to be because there are legitimate pathways into the country for people who meet the bar, and being clear about the bar is important and that appears to be turning up in the Brit policy.’’
The meetings came after a request from the Home Office to Britain’s Migration Advisory Committee in June asking it to consider salary thresholds in the context of the future immigration system.
In September, the Home Office followed up asking the independent advisory committee to conduct a review of the Australian immigration system and similar sys
‘‘New Zealand’s view has been that a merit-based immigration system is a good place to be.’’ Greg Patchell
Immigration NZ
tems, on best practice. During the meetings, Home Office officials discussed the highlights of the New Zealand points system, temporary work visas, how to determine skill shortage lists and how to get European Union citizens into a situation where they could legally stay in Britain.
They also discussed the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZETA), which strengthens border security, which Britain looked set to introduce, he said.
Many travellers wanting to visit New Zealand now need an electronic authorisation, after it was introduced in October last year.