Changes in visa requirements for temporary workers in the music, screen and entertainment industry

Monday, 30 April 2012 (Source – Immigration New Zealand

Changes in visa requirements for temporary workers in the music, screen and entertainment industry take effect on 30 April 2012.  The changes apply to entertainers, performing artists and associated support personnel, film and video production and post-production crew, producers and directors.

What has changed?

Previously all such applications needed to be referred to the relevant professional association, industry guild or union such as the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild, the Screen Production and Development Association, the Screen Directors’ Guild of New Zealand, New Zealand Actors Equity, the New Zealand Actor’s Guild, or the musicians’ branch of the Service and Food Workers Union.

New rules

From 30 April 2012 there will be a streamlined process, without any professional association, industry guild or union referral, for applicants whose engagement in New Zealand is:

• for 14 days or less, or
• on an official co-production, or
• with an accredited company.

Applications that fall outside these criteria will be subject to the same industry-led labour market testing that currently applies.

Accreditation

New Zealand companies who seek to engage entertainment industry personnel will be able to apply in advance to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to become accredited. They must demonstrate that they:

• are financially sound,
• have a sound industry track record,
• have a commitment to engaging and training New Zealanders, and
• have good work place practices.

The relevant professional associations, industry guilds and/or unions will be consulted as part of consideration of applications for accreditation.

For more information on the accreditation criteria, please see Entertainment industry accreditation.

Approved arts and music festivals

Performers and direct support staff attending an ‘approved’ arts or music festival will be able to enter New Zealand as visitors, without having to apply for a visa if they are from one of the more than 50 countries with which New Zealand has a visa-waiver agreement.

For an arts or music festival to become ‘approved’, its organisers will have to submit a proposal to INZ demonstrating that their festival meets certain criteria. See the Checklist for Arts and Music Festival Approval Status PDF [334KB] for further information.

Rationale for changes

The key objective of the changes is to reduce red tape and compliance costs on entertainment industry businesses and to support economic growth. This will ensure that these businesses can get the people they need when they need them, while still providing protection for New Zealand workers. The previous ‘one size fits all’ immigration process, where all applications are referred to industry guilds or unions irrespective of whether there is a risk of displacing New Zealand workers, does not necessarily reflect the requirements of different industry sectors, types of production or other government objectives.

Benefits of the changes

The changes will make it easier for entertainment industry companies to bring workers to New Zealand. Inbound productions can create a significant number of jobs for New Zealanders across a range of roles.  The changes will reduce the risk of the immigration process reducing New Zealand’s attractiveness to overseas productions.

For more information regarding your immigration and visa requirements please contact Auckland law firm Quay Law NZ.

Immigration New Zealand’s Vision for 2015

Source nz.new.yahoo.com

Education New Zealand is welcoming the release of Immigration New Zealand’s ‘Vision for 2015’.

The Government plans to double the economic value of international education to 5.5-billion over the next 15-years.

Education New Zealand chairman Charles Finny says the connection of strategies between government agencies is paramount to success.

He says Education New Zealand is already working closely with other agencies on a number of shared initiatives.

Mr Finny says international education is a key pillar in strengthening New Zealand’s economic, cultural and social links with the world.

 

Changes to Immediate Skill Shortage List and Long Term Skill Shortage List

Source: infonew.co.nz

1 September 2010, 2:09PM

By Department of Labour

The bi-annual review of the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) and the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL), administered by the Department of Labour, has been completed.

The ISSL includes occupations that are in immediate demand in the New Zealand labour market. The LTSSL includes occupations that are in long term and global shortage.

Two occupations, Scaffolders and Automotive Technicians will be added to the ISSL, and three occupations, Ship’s Master, Ship’s Officer and Forest Scientist to the LTSSL. Thirteen occupations mostly in the building, design and racing industries will be removed from the ISSL. One occupation, Architect, will be removed from the LTSSL. In addition, four occupations will be removed from the ISSL as they are already covered in the LTSSL. Some requirements will be updated.

The ISSL and LTSSL will be released on 8 September 2010.

The removal of the occupations from the lists is the result of an extensive consultation with industry groups, other stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

Employers can still recruit migrants in occupations that have been removed from the lists. The employer will need to demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit suitable New Zealand citizens or residents. Temporary work visas or permits can be granted after there is evidence that there are no suitable New Zealanders available.

Immigration New Zealand works with a number of agencies when reviewing the labour market to help identify areas of immediate and long-term skill shortage. This is to ensure that the lists reflect genuine skill shortage so New Zealanders are not disadvantaged while at the same time making sure employers get the skilled employees they need to take advantage of improvements in the economy.

Head of Immigration New Zealand, Nigel Bickle says “For occupations no longer on the LTSSL and ISSL the labour market test process, where agencies such as Work and Income are involved, ensures that New Zealanders are not disadvantaged if seeking employment before an employer recruits a migrant worker. However, New Zealand still has skill shortages in certain areas and jobs may need to be filled by people from overseas.”

Mr Bickle says there will be ongoing review of all occupations on the list which will ensure flexibility in times of both shortage and economic growth.

Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL)

Thirteen occupations to be removed from the ISSL on 8 September 2010:
• Architectural Designer
• Architectural Draughtsperson (Civil CAD Designer)
• Architectural Draughtsperson
• Graphic Artist
• Fire Alarm Technician
• Florist (Senior)
• Gas Fitter
• Vehicle Body Builder (Bus or Coach only)
• Horse Trainer (Stallion Master)
• Horse Trainer (Stud Groom)
• Jockey
• Trackwork Rider
• Telecommunications Technician

Two occupations to be added to the ISSL:
• Automotive Technician (Motor Mechanic)
• Scaffolder (Advanced)

Four occupations to be moved from the ISSL to the LTSSL:
• Conductor (Conductive Education Practitioner)
• Construction Project Manager (Chip sealing, Asphalt or other Technical Manager) (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Construction Project Manager (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Ship’s Engineer

Four occupations to be removed from the ISSL as covered by the LTSSL:
• Marine Designer
• Systems Analyst
• Software Engineer
• ICT Support and Test Engineer
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)

One occupation to be removed from the LTSSL on 8 September 2010:
• Architect

Three occupations to be added to the LTSSL:
• Ship’s Officer
• Ship’s Master
• Forest Scientist

Four occupations to be moved to the LTSSL from the ISSL:
• Conductor (Conductive Education Practitioner)
• Construction Project Manager (Chip sealing, Asphalt or other Technical Manager) (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Construction Project Manager (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Ship’s Engineer

Immigrant fingerprints checks introduced between Oz and New Zealand as part of fraud drive that will be extended to other countries

Media Release

Source: www.dol.govt.nz  (Department of Labour)

16 August 2010

 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has begun fingerprint checks with Australia as part of a biometric programme to strengthen border security and prevent identity fraud.

The programme will expand to include checks with the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States under the umbrella of the Five Country Conference (FCC), which has developed a system for securely – and with substantial privacy safeguards – matching fingerprint biometrics of persons of interest. Fingerprints of FCC citizens will not be shared.

The system will help INZ combat fraud and strengthen border security by helping identify, early in the immigration process, people with criminal histories or those using false identities.

“Organised crime groups and illegal migrants are increasingly using identity and passport fraud to evade detection,” says Arron Baker, INZ’s Programme Manager for Identity and Biometrics.

“Biometrics uses technology to improve on traditional checks using names to detect and prevent these people from entering New Zealand. It is a fast, effective and privacy protecting way of quickly facilitating genuine clients while filtering out those who pose risks to New Zealand.”

INZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship on 30 June 2010, and is now completing similar agreements with the UK, Canada and the US.

The Department of Labour completed a Privacy Impact Assessment of the system in close consultation with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. This is available to the public at http://www.immigration.govt.nz.

 ENDS

 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q1. What is the Five Country Conference?

The Five Country Conference (‘FCC’) is a forum for immigration and border security – involving Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom (U.K), the United States (U.S) and New Zealand.

Q2. What is biometric identification?

A. Biometric identification is the confirmation of people’s identity by comparing unique physical features such as fingerprints, photograph, iris scan, etc. with a previously obtained image. 

Q3. How do you know the exchange with foreign countries will be secure?

A. The Five Country Conference has developed a system which ensures the information exchange is very secure. The system has been subject to rigorous security accreditation by each country. Also, information shared may only be supplied in accordance with the member’s immigration and privacy laws, as well as international arrangements signed by the parties.

Q4. Will you be sharing any biometrics of Five Country Conference national citizens?

A. No. Fingerprints of citizens of the FCC will not be shared as part of these identity checks.  The only time FCC citizens information may be relevant is if someone conceals their true identify as an FCC citizen when dealing with an FCC immigration agency.

Q5. FCC data sharing will involve the exchange of both biometric and biographic data. What kind of biographic data will be shared?

A. There is no biographic information (names, birthdates etc) shared when an identity is checked. Only the fingerprint data is provided to make a check. Privacy experts regard this approach as an innovative way to protect people’s identity. Only when a fingerprint match is made will biographic data be exchanged to confirm if identity fraud has occurred. 

Q6. How do you know there will not be security breaches to the data sharing system?

A. Security of data and privacy are of paramount importance to all countries in the FCC. All data exchanged is very strongly encrypted. Thorough security assessments of the system have been completed by a number of government security experts and agencies. 

Q7. Under these information sharing arrangements, will the FCC countries be able to remove or deport individuals who have committed an immigration or criminal offence?

A. Yes. Information that is shared under the exchange programme can support prosecution and/or deportation of individuals.  It will also be used to prevent the entry of known persons of concern — including those who have committed an immigration or criminal offence.

Applicant and skilled migrant category

An applicant (Principal Applicant) under the skilled migrant category can include his/her partner and dependent children in his/her Expression of Interest, and, if invited to do so, in his/her application for residence. If residence is granted, it extends to the Principal Applicant’s partner and children. They must also meet health, character, and English language requirements.

For more information, please contact a Quay Law team member.

Steps towards gaining residence in New Zealand

Siva Shanker Rajadurai

Working temporarily in New Zealand can be used as a step towards gaining residence and settling here permanently. 

If your talents are needed by New Zealand employers, or you have exceptional talent in the arts, culture or sports, you can apply to work in New Zealand under the Work to Residence category. 

If you are already in New Zealand on a Work to Residence permit, after two years you can apply for residence.

Which policy you apply under depends on your occupation and your circumstances.

Your choice of lawyer to attend to your immigration needs is an important decision.  For relevant service or for more information please contact a friendly Auckland lawyer at Quay Law.

New Zealand Residence Programme: Investor (Investor 2 Category) selection

New Zealand Residence Programme: Investor (Investor 2 Category) selection

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Source : Immigration New Zealand

A selection of Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Migrant Investment Policy, Investor (Investor 2 Category), took place on Wednesday, 17 February 2010. Eleven EOIs were selected. All EOIs with a claim of between 20 and 171 points were selected.

For more information relating to your immigration needs contact Ian Mellett.

Skilled Migrant Category additional selection criteria maintained

Friday, December 18, 2009

Source : immigration.govt.nz

The additional criteria for selecting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from the Skilled Migrant Category Pool (the Pool) until 31 July 2010 have been set. The criteria will remain the same as in the previous six month period.

These criteria are applied when there are places available in the Pool after all applicants who score between 100 and 140 points and have a New Zealand job or job offer have been selected. When this happens, other EOIs may be selected on the basis of specific criteria which the Minister of Immigration sets every six months.

The additional selection criteria are:

• EOIs that include 15 points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total);
• EOIs that include 10 points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total);
• EOIs that include 10 points for a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total);
• the points total of EOIs not meeting any of the above criteria.

International Travel and Migration: November 2009

International Travel and Migration: November 2009 – Media Release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

New Zealand’s annual net permanent and long-term (PLT) migration balance was a gain of 20,000 in the November 2009 year, up from 3,600 in the November 2008 year, Statistics New Zealand said today. The latest annual net migration total is the highest since the July 2004 year (20,600). The increase in net migration was driven largely by 17,300 fewer PLT departures compared with the previous year.

PLT departures decreased by 1,600 in the November 2009 month, including 1,500 fewer departures to Australia and 200 fewer departures to the United Kingdom. Since February 2009, PLT departures have fallen by at least 1,000 each month compared with the same month of the previous year. PLT arrivals decreased by 200 in November 2009.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, PLT arrivals exceeded PLT departures by 1,800 in the November 2009 month, similar to levels experienced since February 2009.

Visitor arrivals in November 2009 (219,900) were up 600 (less than 1 percent) compared with November 2008. Arrivals from Australia (up 7,300 or 9 percent) were again the major contributor, with November 2009 being the eighth consecutive month of large increases from across the Tasman. There were drops in visitors from the United States (down 2,400) and Canada (down 900). Visitor arrivals in the November 2009 year (2.439 million) were down 14,300 (1 percent) from the November 2008 year.

New Zealand residents departed on 158,400 short-term overseas trips in November 2009, up 3,200 (2 percent) from November 2008. There were more trips to India (up 1,100 or 22 percent), and the United States (up 1,000 or 19 percent), but fewer trips to the Cook Islands (down 800 or 18 percent) and Australia (down 800 or 1 percent). For the November 2009 year, short-term departures of New Zealand residents numbered 1.921 million, down 58,400 (3 percent) from the previous November year.

	21 December 2009
END

Expect a strong recovery in NZ economy: Westpac

Expect a strong recovery in New Zealand’s economy, Westpac says

Monday, 18 January 2010, 4:33 pm
Article: Businesswire

Jan. 18 (BusinessWire) – New Zealand’s economic recovery will be stronger than most economists are forecasting, with growth likely to top 4% next year, Westpac Banking Corp said in its quarterly economic overview.

While the global financial crisis could mean a different kind of recovery, Westpac’s economics team suggests there is too much store being placed in that analysis, especially when so many of the factors now at play look the same or better than recoveries in the past.

Westpac’s forecast of a 3.7% rate of growth in gross domestic product this year, and 4.3% in 2011, is at the top end of the 16 forecasters the bank monitors, and it’s happy with that.

“We find that recoveries from past recessions have tended to be very strong,” said Westpac’s chief economist, Brendon O’Donovan. “On average, New Zealand GDP (economic) growth peaks at 6% per annum nine quarters after the recession has ended.”

“What is startling is how many favors are currently shaping up similar to that experienced in previous strong recoveries,” he said. “That would suggest that the risks to our forecasts are weighted more to the upside than the downside.”

Among factors looking similar or better than in previous recoveries, Westpac listed:
• A deep recession to start with;
• Asset prices, particularly housing, rebounding strongly;
• A mini-boom in migration is under way;
• World economic forecasts keep being revised upwards, led by Asian economies rather than Europe or the USA on this occasion;
• A dramatic shortfall in new houses being built;
• Unusually deep de-stocking, meaning firms will have greater inventory re-stocking needs. Inventories fell in mid-2009 by the greatest extent since records began in 1987;
• Reduced consumption mainly affected durable goods, especially cars. If and when spending returns to more normal patterns, these categories fuel a bounceback;
• Leading indicators including the interest rate outlook (rising), business and consumer confidence are “if anything, stronger in those most other economic recoveries”.

While credit, employment and mortgagee sales data would continue to look weak for some months yet, they were all late signals from the last impacts of the recession on firms and households that had hung on as long as possible, but failed late in the downturn.

While the global financial crisis was severe for world banking, there was no banking crisis in New Zealand and the terms of trade had returned swiftly to robust levels, reflecting demand for agricultural and other commodities from fast-growing Asian countries, where New Zealand was signing an increasing number of trade liberalisation deals that would assist growth.

“Simple arithmetic would suggest a stronger than usual rebound,” O’Donovan said.

Westpac expects a substantial improvement in parts of the economy that are exposed to domestic recovery, singling out construction, publishing and advertising, transport and sectors supporting oplant and machinery investment, and consumer durable goods.

(BusinessWire)