Minister of Immigration
Hon Tuariki Delamere

• POLICIES FOR PROGRESS INDEX
• PM WELCOMES PROGRESS ON IMMIGRATION
• POINTS FOR WORK EXPERIENCE MORE REALISTIC
• ENTREPRENEURS ENCOURAGED
• MAKING NEW ZEALAND A MORE ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION
• LANGUAGE TRAINING
• MORE QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ACCEPTED
• STUDENT POLICY
• TOURISM AND TRADE
• BUSINESS INVESTORS

The Minister of Immigration, Hon Tuariki Delamere, said that if New Zealand is to remain competitive internationally, it needs to ensure that it has the highest level of skills, enterprise, innovation and strong international linkages.

"Quality immigration policy enables us to attract people to this country who will help to make New Zealand a better place for all of us to live in. The policies announced today are aimed at attracting highly skilled migrants to New Zealand by building on the relationships with people already associated with New Zealand and by simplifying processes to ensure that we don't miss out on the people we want here," Mr Delamere said.

"We want to make sure that we are rewarding migrants for the right things, like skills and innovation, not just the amount of money they can bring here. That's why we are removing unnecessary barriers to coming here in order to attract people with flair, enterprise and energy to take part in our communities," he said.

"A good example of this is the abolition of the English language bond, which we are replacing with pre-purchased English language training. The bond was a barrier to migration. We were missing out on skilled migrants who could not afford the $20,000 bond for their family members who did not have at least modest English language skills. This new policy will help migrants who qualify under the General Skills category to come here and it will also help them to speak better English.

"Another important feature of the new policy is a more realistic view of what qualifications should be accepted under the General Skills category. Under old policy we missed out on people with skills and expertise in a wide range of industries, particularly high-tech, emerging industries such as IT. We're also taking a more realistic view of how people's careers develop and we will be accepting all work experience, not just experience relevant to qualifications, for points in the General Skills category," he said.

"We also want to make sure that people who want to invest time and energy in New Zealand are able to do so. In addition to making the Investor category more streamlined, with a simpler points table and better approvals processes, we have also created a new category for entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur category recognises that there are people with business interests in New Zealand who would make good migrants.

"If people are willing to put down roots and invest time and energy in developing a business in this country we'd like them to stay and participate more fully. We'd also like to encourage more people to do this, so we've established a long-term business visa that will enable people with a robust business proposal to set up in business here with a view to becoming a resident in the long-term.

"People with an existing association with New Zealand always find it easier to settle here. That's why we're encouraging international students who graduate from a New Zealand tertiary institution to stay here, by awarding them an extra point in the General Skills category and waiving the requirement for them to have two years' work experience to qualify for residence," Mr Delamere said.

The main features of the immigration policy changes announced today are:

• English language bond abolished and replaced with pre-purchased English language training.
• Business migrant language requirements replaced with pre-purchased English language training.
• Recognition of all work experience for General Skills category points.
• Student policy linked to residence.
• Additional point in the General Skills category for NZ graduates.
• Qualifications accepted for immigration purposes to be aligned with the National Qualifications Framework.
• New Entrepreneur Category for residence.
• New Long-Term Business Visa.
• New Investor Category to replace Business Investor Category.
• New points table for investors.
• Streamlined processes for investors.
• Flexible residence arrangements for key employees of businesses relocating to NZ.
• Business Liaison Unit being planned.
• Retirement visas being considered.