In the red corner
Immigration has long contributed to New Zealand’s social, cultural and economic wellbeing. Those who decide to make this country their home enrich our lives and communities.
They also provide an important source of skilled labour and new ideas, which helps to boost innovation and productivity.
As a Government, our focus is on ensuring that New Zealand has the workforce needed to secure our economic recovery and rebuild from Covid.
Where we have seen areas of high growth and requirements for specialist skills that New Zealand is unable to fill on its own, we have worked alongside sectors to make sure that they have theworkers needed to fill critical skill shortages.
We have already made changes to allow for a simplified pathway to residence for up to 165,000 migrants, including much-needed health and aged care professionals, as well as teachers. We have also backed our primary sector by allocating thousands of border exemptions to ease skill gaps across our primary industries.
As New Zealand reconnects with the world, we have implemented new immigration provisions to help the tourism sector prepare for the ski season. And we have allowed more working holidaymakers, whichwill further help sectors facing worker shortages at the moment.
Our Government also has a plan to transition to newways of training and upskilling Kiwis into jobs, aswell as creating incentives to increase productivity through investment in new business practices, capital and new technologies.
We are already working with businesses on how they can attract new workers, whether that is by improving pay and conditions, being more flexible or helping workers fulfil their potential by providing access to skills and training.
And we are also rolling out a number of upskilling and training policies, like free apprenticeships.
New Zealand is a vibrant and beautiful country, and there will always be more people who want to call it home. But there are so many factors at play within our immigration system – humanitarian, social and economic – that’s why getting the settings right is a balancing act.
While some student visa holders may not be eligible for the fast-tracked 2021 Resident Visa, these students can explore other options if they want to stay in New Zealand permanently, like the Skilled Migrant Category visa, which is expected to reopen later this year.
As our economic recovery gains momentum, wewill continue to focus on securing the workers most needed for New Zealand’s rebuild from Covid.