Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism
 
Tourism Ticker
The Business of Tourism

Tourism Ticker

Tourism Ticker
  News   Recovery   Opinion
Tuesday 05 March 2024
Roundup   Jobs   Calendar  

Visas

Immigration NZ approves 420k visitor visas for 2023 17th January 2024 /

Immigration NZ approves 420k visitor visas for 2023

Immigration New Zealand received 519,417 visitor visa applications in 2023 and has approved 81%, or 420,727, of them.


Aviation jobs added to Green List, RSE cap raised 25th September 2023 /

Aviation jobs added to Green List, RSE cap raised

The government has added two new aviation-based roles to the Green List, including aircraft maintenance engineer and aviation engineer specialising in avionics, aeronautical and aerospace engineering.


INZ’s management of AEWV under review 30th August 2023 /

INZ’s management of AEWV under review

A review of the Accredited Employer Work Visa aims to determine whether Immigration New Zealand is administering the scheme appropriately.


By the numbers: Cooks, chefs top work visas for tourism, hospo 1st August 2023 /

By the numbers: Cooks, chefs top work visas for tourism, hospo

Immigration New Zealand has approved close to 18,000 Accredited Employer Work Visas and 312,000 visitor visas, according to the latest immigration figures.


UK Working Holiday Visa extended to 3 years 4th July 2023 /

UK Working Holiday Visa extended to 3 years

Working holidaymakers from the UK are now able to stay in New Zealand for up to three years, benefiting employers and around 3,000 visa holders in the country.


INZ aims for “steady baseline” on visa processing times 27th June 2023 /

INZ aims for “steady baseline” on visa processing times

After a surge in international visitors in 2022 contributed to visa delays, Immigration New Zealand says it has now improved its visa processing times.


AEWV to be extended to five years 23rd June 2023 /

AEWV to be extended to five years

The government is adjusting the duration of the Accredited Employer Work Visa from three years to five years from November.


Changes for Partner of a Worker Work Visas 30th May 2023 /

Changes for Partner of a Worker Work Visas

Businesses that wish to hire people on Partner of a Worker Work Visas will need to be accredited employers and pay at least the minimum wage, under changes that come into effect from tomorrow.


PM: Upgraded WHV will help tourism, hospo from July 5th May 2023 /

PM: Upgraded WHV will help tourism, hospo from July

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says New Zealand’s upgraded working holiday agreement with the UK will help support tourism and hospitality.


By the numbers: Immigration NZ’s latest working holiday visa stats 24th April 2023 /

By the numbers: Immigration NZ’s latest working holiday visa stats

A large majority of working holiday and accredited employer work visas have been approved.


Earlier working holiday boost with up to 15k Brits eligible for upgraded visa 10th March 2023 /

Earlier working holiday boost with up to 15k Brits eligible for upgraded visa

Three new working holiday visas between the United Kingdom and New Zealand will come into force by 1 July this year.


Easier access to NZ for frequent business visitors from Pacific – govt 9th December 2022 /

Easier access to NZ for frequent business visitors from Pacific – govt

Frequent business visitors and officials and diplomats travelling to New Zealand from Pacific Island Forum Countries and Kiribati will receive improved visa conditions when travelling to New Zealand.


Govt defers partner work visa changes until April 6th December 2022 /

Govt defers partner work visa changes until April

The government has deferred changes to partner work visas from December until April 2023 to refocus on immediate skill shortages.


More than 17k WHV travellers now in NZ, prep for “bumper” summer – govt 16th November 2022 /

More than 17k WHV travellers now in NZ, prep for “bumper” summer – govt

Nearly half of the 36,000 working holiday visa holders approved since March this year are now in the country, says the government.


Govt earmarks 2,000 visas for parents of skilled migrants 15th November 2022 /

Govt earmarks 2,000 visas for parents of skilled migrants

The government has allocated up to 2,000 visas per year for parents of skilled migrants resettling in New Zealand.


Govt tweaks working holiday visas to help plug shortages as arrivals ramp up for summer 31st October 2022 /

Govt tweaks working holiday visas to help plug shortages as arrivals ramp up for summer

Thousands of working holidaymakers on their way to New Zealand will have more flexibility and extended entry rights to help plug labour shortages at Kiwi businesses.


Working holidaymakers eye up spring, autumn for NZ travel – report 27th October 2022 /

Working holidaymakers eye up spring, autumn for NZ travel – report

Working holidaymakers are eyeing up this spring and from autumn 2023 as desirable times to travel to the country, according to a report from Immigration New Zealand.


Travel expense, visitors waiting for summer bigger hurdles than visa processing times – PM 18th October 2022 /

Travel expense, visitors waiting for summer bigger hurdles than visa processing times – PM

Visa processing times are not as much of a barrier to filling workforce shortages as encouraging visitors and working holidaymakers to actually embark on travel.


More than 30k WHVs approved, arrivals under scheme to grow – govt 13th October 2022 /

More than 30k WHVs approved, arrivals under scheme to grow – govt

There have been 30,430 Working Holiday Visas approved since March, with arrivals under the scheme expected to grow in the coming months, says Immigration Minister Michael Wood.


McClay: Nash “washing his hands” of unacceptable visitor visa delays 7th October 2022 /

McClay: Nash “washing his hands” of unacceptable visitor visa delays

McClay said the wait time for visitor visas is now so bad that INZ has removed the standard processing times from its website.


“There was a bit of a bottleneck as we pushed ‘go'” – Nash on visitor visa delays 6th October 2022 /

“There was a bit of a bottleneck as we pushed ‘go'” – Nash on visitor visa delays

The tourism minister says INZ is under “a great deal of stress” coping with demand as NZ ramps up its promotion.


Govt: Around 30,500 WHV applications – 6,200 in NZ already 28th September 2022 /

Govt: Around 30,500 WHV applications – 6,200 in NZ already

The government says it has received around 30,500 working holiday visa applications in the past year.


Post-study work visas changed to align with workforce challenges 8th September 2022 /

Post-study work visas changed to align with workforce challenges

International students studying in New Zealand will be able to take advantage of two new Post-Study Work Visa changes designed to help them find further work and residence after they complete their studies.


Residence pathway for skilled migrants opens 6th September 2022 /

Residence pathway for skilled migrants opens

The government’s first residence category for highly-skilled workers has opened this week, with the launch of the Green List Straight to Residence pathway.


Tourism commends working holiday expansion as govt eases rules 22nd August 2022 /

Tourism commends working holiday expansion as govt eases rules

The seasonal snow and adventure tourism agreement will provide access to migrant workers for $25 per hour, to be reviewed up annually.


Workforce boost as 85k resident visas approved 17th August 2022 /

Workforce boost as 85k resident visas approved

More than 85,000 people have been approved for the 2021 Resident Visa, providing more certainty for businesses and skilled migrants.


Offer something “unique to NZ” – how operators can attract working holidaymakers 5th August 2022 /

Offer something “unique to NZ” – how operators can attract working holidaymakers

Employers looking to hire the visa holders need to appear as attractive as possible amid fierce competition.


Govt urged to step up in ‘global war for talent’ 4th August 2022 /

Govt urged to step up in ‘global war for talent’

Unemployment figures remain near record lows at 3.3%, and BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope says there is not enough flexibility in the tight labour market to address skill shortages.


Govt to introduce new migrant residence pathways 28th July 2022 /

Govt to introduce new migrant residence pathways

Three new residence pathways will be introduced over the 14 months to address shortages in highly skilled areas.


Resident visa applications top 103k 27th July 2022 /

Resident visa applications top 103k

Immigration New Zealand has received more than 103,000 applications involving 209,000 people for the 2021 Resident Visa, and of those, 37,455 have been processed.


Govt creates new investor visa to boost businesses 21st July 2022

Govt creates new investor visa to boost businesses

The government has created a new investor category aimed at increasing direct foreign investment in New Zealand businesses.


Immigration woes send skilled staff packing 11th July 2022 /

Immigration woes send skilled staff packing

The government needs to fix immigration delays or risk losing skilled workers with longserving staff giving up on the wait, says a tourism operator.


Nats call on govt to extend expiring WHVs 11th July 2022 /

Nats call on govt to extend expiring WHVs

The National Party is calling on the government to add a six-month extension to all working holiday visas that are due to expire this year.


Final stage of new work visa opens 5th July 2022 /

Final stage of new work visa opens

The final stage of the Accredited Employer Work Visa is now in effect, enabling migrants offshore to apply to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer.


UK working holiday visa extended 4th July 2022 /

UK working holiday visa extended

Changes to the working holiday scheme with the United Kingdom will enable UK citizens up to the age of 35 to work in New Zealand for three years.


Spanish opportunity for employers as working holiday cap jumps to 2k 29th June 2022 /

Spanish opportunity for employers as working holiday cap jumps to 2k

The government has expanded its Working Holiday Visa programme with Spain, enabling more young people to come to the country and work for longer.


Tourism, hospo secure median wage exemption on migrant workers 11th May 2022 /

Tourism, hospo secure median wage exemption on migrant workers

The government has allowed those industries to pay a lower wage threshold of $25 per hour to migrant workers but only until April 2023.


NZ expands working holiday scheme with Singapore 20th April 2022 /

NZ expands working holiday scheme with Singapore

An extension of New Zealand’s Working Holiday Scheme for Singapore will enable up to 300 Singaporeans to travel to New Zealand from 5 May.


INZ working on campaign to attract working holidaymakers – PM 30th March 2022 /

INZ working on campaign to attract working holidaymakers – PM

Immigration New Zealand is working on campaigns to attract working holiday visa visitors, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.


Immigration minister ‘doing nothing’ to boost WHV incentives – Nats 22nd March 2022 /

Immigration minister ‘doing nothing’ to boost WHV incentives – Nats

Sorry, you do not have authorisation to view this page! If you would like to view the content on this page you will need to be a Tourism Ticker member. MORE »


Bumpy road ahead as hostels welcome return of WHVs 15th March 2022 /

Bumpy road ahead as hostels welcome return of WHVs

Despite the WHV scheme being back on the table, it will still be a rough year ahead for the hostel and youth sector, warns NZHA chair Brett Duncan.


Working holidaymakers welcome but no ‘silver bullet’ for employment 14th March 2022 /

Working holidaymakers welcome but no ‘silver bullet’ for employment

The government reopened working holiday visa applications at 11.59pm on Sunday night as it looked to help fill workforce shortages and support tourism.


Almost 70k resident visa applications submitted – INZ 11th March 2022 /

Almost 70k resident visa applications submitted – INZ

Nearly 70,000 2021 Resident Visa applications have been received since applications first opened on 1 December 2021.


Record number of applicants for resident visas 2nd March 2022 /

Record number of applicants for resident visas

A record number of applications have been received following phase 2 of the government’s one-off 2021 Resident Visa.


Border plan pushes most international student arrivals to 2023 – ENZ 11th February 2022 /

Border plan pushes most international student arrivals to 2023 – ENZ

The timing of the government border reopening for international students means that a large group of them would not enrol until early 2023, says Education New Zealand.


Working holiday scheme offers hope for labour-short operators 8th February 2022 /

Working holiday scheme offers hope for labour-short operators

The first significant impact on the labour problem within the tourist industry could be provided by the return of working holiday makers from 13 March.


NZ, UK commit to extending working holiday scheme 21st October 2021

NZ, UK commit to extending working holiday scheme

The New Zealand and UK governments have committed to enhancing their working holiday agreement.


8500+ visa holders granted extension to help plug summer labour gaps 12th October 2021 /

8500+ visa holders granted extension to help plug summer labour gaps

The government has extended working holiday and supplementary seasonal employment work visas by six months.


Visitor visas first to get improved processing 1st October 2021 /

Visitor visas first to get improved processing

Visitor visas will be the first to join an enhanced visa application system expected to reduce backlogs and speed approvals, says Immigration New Zealand.


International student exceptions take-up slows 1st October 2021 /

International student exceptions take-up slows

International student border exception visa arrival numbers have slowed since July, according to data from Immigration New Zealand.