1. Siân Roguski – Manager Immigration Policy
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Immigration Policy Work Programme (2017)
Siân Roguski – Manager Immigration Policy

2. Overview Work since the last conference
Strategic labour market and immigration work
Current policy projects, and changes to the immigration system
Upcoming or proposed policy projects

3. Since the last conference
Refugee quota increased
Visa waiver changes
NZRP for 2016/17 to 2017/18 set
Skilled Migrant Category review
South Island Contribution visa
Consultation on changes to the Essential Skills work visa
Changes to improve the functioning of various categories including:
Updating the definition of a ‘fit and proper’ person for business visa applications
Removing the 7-year limit for domestic violence or sexual offences committed by New Zealanders supporting partnership-based visa applications
A pathway to residence for long-term partners of New Zealanders when a relationship has broken down and the family includes children
Preventing circumvention of immigration health requirements
In June last year the refugee quota was increased from 750 to 1000 from 2018, after the Syrian emergency response refugees have been resettled
The change of visa waiver status for South Africa (no longer visa waiver), Mauritius and the Seychelles (became visa waiver) was implemented from November 2016.
The new NZRP was announced in October 2016 with a reduced planning range for the next two years to 85,000 – 95,000 (down from 90,000 – 100,000). The points for selection under the SMC were raised from 140 to 160 and the Parent Category was reduced from 5,500 to 2,000 per year. This resulted in a temporary closure of the Parent Category to deal with applications already in process.
From October, consultation was undertaken on changes to the SMC and these changes were announced in April along with the details of the South Island Contribution visa (formerly known as the pathway).
Other changes included extending the accreditation period for Talent employers; guardian visas for parents of NZ citizen children; visitor visas for tour escorts (rather than work visas); aligning crew of superyachts and other private craft; small change to entertainers policy to include crew; amending the maximum age requirement for work to residence LTSSL; requiring all onshore dependants to be included in a residence visa application.

4. Strategic labour market work
Taking a big picture look at the New Zealand labour market and the future of work
Sector Workforce Engagement Programme
Working with occupations and sectors to understand their reliance on migrant labour compared to New Zealanders
Co-developing responses to create a domestic pipeline of labour

5. Strategic immigration work
Looking at the connections between migration and the New Zealand labour market
Work has been completed on the first phase of:
Improving the attraction, selection and integration of investors and entrepreneurs
Facilitating people who will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth while managing risk
Work is still underway on improving the contribution of migration to the labour market through reviewing key labour migration policies

6. Current policy projects
Improving the operation of various immigration policies
Reviewing the parent category
Reviewing the partnership and dependent child categories
Implementing a pilot programme for community sponsorship of refugees
Consulting on the changes to Essential Skills work visas agreed in principle by Cabinet

7. Upcoming or proposed policy projects
Fee and levy review
Phase two of the changes to temporary work visa settings
Review of character settings
Review of some student settings – scope to be determined
Combatting exploitation and people trafficking

8. Thank you