Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Economic Development Minister Nicola Willis.
Photo: Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ
Two new pathways to residence for skilled migrants will kick in from the middle of next year, the government has announced
Under the Skilled Work Experience path, migrants in ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles being paid at least 1.1 times the median wage, with at least five years of relevant job history – at least two of which must be in New Zealand – can apply for a permanent residence visa.
The Trades and Technician pathway is for migrants in specific ANZSCO Level 1-3 roles paying at or above median wage, with a Level 4 or above qualification and four years of experience – a year-and-a-half being in New Zealand.
The current median wage is $33.56 an hour.
Ministers Nicola Willis and Erica Stanford said the changes would help grow the economy.
“Businesses told us it was too hard for some migrants to gain residence, even when they had crucial skills and significant experience that was not available in the existing workforce,” Willis said. “We’re fixing it.”
Photo: Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ
Stanford said the government was balancing the need to attract higher-skilled workers, while managing migration levels responsibly, and additional elibility restrictions would apply to some occupations.
Further details on that, including which occupations would be eligible for the Trades and Technician pathway, would be provided before they opened next year.
“These changes are part of a suite of smart, flexible and nuanced immigration solutions we’ve introduced,” Stanford said.
Peters invokes ‘agree to disagree’ provision over ‘serious concerns’
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has invoked the ‘agree to disagree’ provision over the policy, saying he has “serious concerns”.
Peters said he was concerned those who got residency would become citizens, then use their New Zealand passports for fast-tracked visas to Australia.
He said almost half of New Zealand citizens already applying for Australian citizenship last year were not born here.
“New Zealand is being used as a stepping stone into Australia. We take them in, train them, up-skill them, look after their families, and then they emigrate. How is this an effective immigration policy?”
Peters said the system should be focused on providing young New Zealanders with the skills needed for a range of industries.
“This is not a new issue – while we recognise the importance of retaining some critical workers, we have serious concerns about this unfocused immigration proposal.”
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford at the announcement.
Photo: Kim Baker Wilson / RNZ
Peters said he supports extending existing work visas for workers already here for another three years to address the short-term demand.
“We cannot maintain this decades-old papering over the cracks for short term needs.”
Joanna Hall from the Employers and Manufacturers Association told Morning Report under the current rules, vocational workers were “locked out”.
“Our members, for a long time, have felt that we haven’t seen an acknowledgement of the value that these workers can provide.”
Hall said many of these workers had “years and years” of experience that isn’t available in the local job market.
While unsure of the actual numbers who will apply, Hall believed the Visas will be very attractive to workers in a number of sectors.
“It’s a very wide range where these roles don’t have professional registration.”
Hall believes it is important to train the domestic workforce, and for many businesses hiring a migrant was not the “first port of call,” and called for the education system to align with industry needs.
As for concerns the Visas will be used by workers to move to Australia, Hall wasn’t concerned.
“You’ve got to remember, a lot of the people that will qualify for this have been part of these teams now for years. They have set up their lives in New Zealand.”
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