Aspiring residents checked in NZ

The processing of Pacific Islanders' residence applications has been shifted back to New Zealand in a move that could be applied worldwide.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said New Zealand had since January been handling the applications of Pacific Island people wanting to live here.

Previously the applications were dealt with in their respective countries under New Zealand supervision.

Applications for temporary visas continued to be processed abroad.

Mr Cunliffe said the new approach concerning residency aimed to centralise decision-making, improve consistency and ensure a better selection of quality residents to fit New Zealand's needs.

There had been no redundancies as a result of the changed policy and frontline staff in the Pacific countries were freed to provide higher levels of customer service.

Their new roles included networking with New Zealand employers who travelled to the region looking for skilled labour, and an emphasis on the successful settlement of new migrants by providing better information with a clearer understanding of what migrants could expect.

Mr Cunliffe said the consideration of residence applications back in New Zealand could be extended worldwide.

In some countries, such as those in Asia, the work had had to be out-sourced because of language barriers.

In English-speaking countries such as Britain or the United States the work was mostly done by New Zealanders employed in branches there.

Mr Cunliffe said New Zealand also wanted to enhance its border security.

Extra positions were being set up in the Pacific to boost New Zealand's intelligence and risk management associated with immigration. Those roles would involve working more closely with Pacific Governments and border management agencies.

Pacific branches received 1747 applications for NZ residence from July 1 2004 to June 30 last year.

They were made under the quota-based residence programmes (Samoan quota and Pacific-access category) and family residence policy.