Government launches campaign to draw expats home

Helen Clark

The Government has launched a campaign to encourage expatriates back to New Zealand.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and Immigration Minister Paul Swain jointly announced the campaign today.

"The Government wants to make it easier for expats to come home and find the right job by giving them the best information about the country, economy and job opportunities," Helen Clark said.

"This programme brings all that together."

The programme included:

* launching a website, aimed at expats, featuring current data about New Zealand, which can connect expats to employers, recruiters, real estate agents and other organisations and information they need. The website would also link to the Labour Department's CV matching service, networkzonline;

* trialing using Labour Department video conferencing facilities in London for New Zealand employers to interview expats;

* working with organisations with expat links such as Kiwi Expats Association; and

* promoting offshore job expos to expats to help them connect with New Zealand employers.

The Prime Minister said there was a shortage of workers with unemployment at 3.7 per cent. At least 460,000 New Zealanders were living overseas.

"Yet studies show that half of our expatriates think they'll come home and 25 per cent are still deciding," Helen Clark said.

"The key factors people consider when thinking about returning home are lifestyle, friends and family, and work and career. These new initiatives aim to provide information relevant to a decision to return home."

Labour also believed its interest-free student loan policy for people living in New Zealand would draw back expats.

- NZPA