New Zealand, renowned for its breathtaking scenery and diverse culture, has taken a tougher stance on immigration recently. Led by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford, the government has decided to readjust its visa regulations in order to mitigate the explosion in immigration figures, which has led to unsustainable population growth.
New Zealand Current Immigration Scenario
Over the last few years, New Zealand has seen a massive influx of immigrants. Much of this is due to the AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) scheme, which was primarily designed to address the labour shortage caused by the COVID-19 avian flu pandemic.
However, the AEWV has resulted in a near-record level of migration, with around 173,000 new non-New Zealand citizens moving to the country in the space of a year.
"Getting our immigration settings right is critical to this government's plan to rebuild the economy." said Erica Stanford.
In parallel, emigration from New Zealand has been a significant trend, with the country losing a record 47,000 citizens in the last year alone.
To address these challenges, the government has made a number of changes to the visa programme. These amendments aim to balance the need for skilled labour, prevent the exploitation of migrants and ensure that employment opportunities are prioritised for New Zealanders where there is no shortage of skilled labour.
“The government is focused on attracting and retaining the highly skilled migrants such as secondary teachers, where there is a skill shortage. At the same time, we need to ensure that New Zealanders are put to the front of the line for jobs where there are no skills shortages.” added Erica Stanford.
English Language and Skill Threshold Requirements
Among the most significant changes is the introduction of English language learning requirements for low-skilled jobseekers. Furthermore, a minimum skill and work experience threshold has been set for most employer work visas.
“By having an English language requirement, migrants will be better able to understand their rights or raise concerns about an employer early.” Erica Stanford.
The government has also reduced the maximum length of continuous rest from five to three years for most low-skilled jobs, further tightening visa requirements.
Henceforth, employers are obliged to ensure that migrants meet the new criteria before hiring them. Employers must also ensure that no suitable and available New Zealander has applied for the job before offering it to a non-New Zealander.
Stanford says that many of the changes are not entirely new. Rather, they are a "return to the pre-pandemic situation, achieving a better balance between the needs of business and the broader interests of New Zealand".
Although these changes are significant, it is worth noting that certain jobs in the transport and care sectors are exempt from the new requirements.