Gisborne businesses believe Government ‘on the right track’ with skilled worker residency criteria

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford met horticulture leaders here this week to discuss residency improvements to keep skilled workers in New Zealand. (From left) Bevan Rakoia (Pacific Island Community Trust), Leigh Anderson (Women in Horticulture), local MP Dana Kirkpatrick, Stanford, LeaderBrand's Gordon McPhail and Grant Walsh from First Fresh. Photo / Murray Robertson

Gisborne’s horticulture leaders have had a positive response to a potential lifting of constraints in the current criteria for skilled workers to gain residency in New Zealand indicated during a visit from Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.

The minister told the Gisborne Herald during her visit last week that she came here to talk to business owners about some of their challenges to ensure changes planned to the current immigration system were right.

“As a new Government we were left with an immigration system that was not quite fit for purpose,” Stanford said.

“What we are doing will address most of those issues, and the feedback I’ve received today indicates we are on the right track.”

Stanford said the previous system had design flaws that this Government was fixing.

“There are skilled workers who don’t currently have a pathway to residency so it’s really important we get that work done quickly.

“At the moment you need a degree, or be in a registered occupation earning 1.5 times the median wage.

“That leaves out a lot of most tradies who are in trades or advanced manufacturing, who are skilled, perhaps with 10-20 years experience, but who don’t meet all the current criteria to gain residency in New Zealand.

“There is obviously a real urgency for them to be able to do that and we expect to have the new improved pathway to residency ready by next year.”

First Fresh sales director Grant Walsh agreed with the minister when it comes to changes in the residency system being on the right track.

“It will open up pathways for what employers need across a varied landscape even within our district in an urgent manner.

“We look forward to seeing the results of these over the next 3-6 months.”

Gordon McPhail from LeaderBrand said the meeting also discussed with the minister how to clear the pathway for accredited ‘gold standard’ employers with incentives and certainty and deal with those that are abusing the system.

“I think there was some real changes outlined that when implemented will have a positive impact on our ability to grow and attract the right skill sets but still protect our local workforce opportunities.

“It was good to see some pragmatic changes to settings and time-bound implementation while considering the views of regional business and communities.”

Tonui Collab IT facility visit

Stanford also visited the Tonui Collab IT facility in Childers Rd in her capacity as education minister during her visit.

“It was really inspiring to see a local charitable organisation providing Stem subjects for local kids.

“They can see that there a real lack of resource in the education sector, especially in this region, for kids to get really good science and technology education.

“So they are running all sorts of courses during term time and also after-school programmes and during the school holidays.

“For the students to create games, get on virtual reality assets and learn about doing robotics,” Stanford said.

“All sorts of really interesting things that get kids excited about science, so they can get engaged and know there is a future career in it for them.

“They do an absolutely amazing job. Particularly with lots of little schools, particularly rural schools, that don’t have access to specialist knowledge,” she said.

“They are providing that through a collaboration.

“The kids we saw there were really excited about it.”