"We support organisations seeking to attract experienced professional staff into New Zealand's face-to-face industry and we understand organisations may offer a contribution towards travel expenses when recruiting them," Ward said.
Charity marketer Cornucopia Consultancy offers to pay $1500 for return flights for people to work as collectors at intersections and footbridges in Auckland and other major cities.
Its contractors collect for the Red Cross, Fred Hollows Foundation and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).
Under the "free flight" deal, foreign collectors are expected to work for six months and sign up at least three donors a day.
"Great fundraisers are hard to find and the free-flights incentive is offered to experienced fundraising professionals," Cornucopia spokeswoman Lisa Cory said.
"Applicants are required to go through a strict and comprehensive recruitment process."
Consumer New Zealand chief executive Sue Chetwin said people were unlikely to welcome more professional collectors on city streets.
"It is hard to believe this is an occupation that might be considered for any skill shortage list," Chetwin said.
"Many consumers have an issue with professional charity collectors as some can be aggressive in their approach."
Ed, from Bradford, England, was collecting in Auckland city centre this week for the Red Cross. He said he had been working in New Zealand for three years and was employed by Cornucopia Consultancy.
Ed would not give his full name and his three colleagues refused to talk about free flights before trying to avoid being photographed.
"I am not allowed to speak to anyone from the media," Ed said. "I don't know anything about free flights."
Immigration NZ said the skills-shortage list identified occupations where there was a genuine shortage of New Zealand workers.
It was not designed for lower-skilled or seasonal labour shortages.
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