30/10/10 - Samoan PM urges NZ-bound workers to behave

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Samoa's Prime Minister says bad and illegal behaviour is threatening the opportunity to find seasonal work in New Zealand.

Tuilaeapa Sailele Malielegaoi was speaking to the latest group of fruit pickers to go to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.

He warned the group against breaking employment contracts by returning home early, sexual misconduct, drunk behaviour and staying in New Zealand illegally once their visas had expired.

Tuilaeapa was also scathing of relatives in New Zealand who persuade seasonal workers not to return home and to stay illegally in order to exploit them, Radio New Zealand International reports.

He says workers should return home and apply properly for residency in New Zealand.

The Prime Minister appealed to the workers not to give the seasonal work scheme and Samoa a bad name, saying continuous problems could cause New Zealand to pull the plug.

The scheme reportedly earned the Samoa economy more than $US4 million last year.

(Source Radio New Zealand)

28/10/10 - New global initiative for business

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Encouraging New Zealand managers to adopt a "global mindset" and help them realise the international growth potential of their businesses is the aim of a new $1.3 million programme being funded by the government, Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee said today.

Mr Brownlee said research showed New Zealand businesses lagged behind other countries in adopting the management mindset needed to succeed in international markets.

"Management and leadership capability affects the productivity of businesses operating internationally. If we are to improve productivity, and therefore economic growth, we need to improve the capability of New Zealand managers and executives doing business overseas."

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has appointed a consortium made up of The University of Auckland Business School, business growth centre The ICEHOUSE, and United States-based Thunderbird School of Global Management (currently rated first in the world for executive education by the Wall Street Journal) to design and deliver a highly-targeted initial 12-month pilot programme to help managers improve their global management and leadership skills.

The programme, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, will be aimed at chief and senior executives, owners and directors of New Zealand firms doing business internationally. Its aim is to accelerate the learning process for internationalising firms and improve their prospects for success in overseas markets.

Research released earlier this year by the Ministry of Economic Development showed that the management practices of New Zealand manufacturers were "middling to average" by global standards.

"The Management Matters report showed our manufacturing firms are good at operational and performance management, but find it hard to attract and retain talented staff and are not good at addressing poor performance. There is a lot we can learn from being exposed to overseas best practice," Mr Brownlee said.

The 12-month experiential programme is expected to commence in the middle of next year, after which it will be reviewed to ensure it is the right fit and will achieve the desired outcomes. It is then intended to become self-funding.

Mr Brownlee said the new $1.3 million NZTE-funded programme would complement the $1 million Prime Minister's Business Scholarships, which will help 15-25 business people a year study at internationally recognised business schools.

It will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the government's Economic Growth Agenda, which includes increasing the number of innovative New Zealand firms participating in the global economy.

(Source Beehive)

26/10/10 - Immigration Act 2009 - Key changes

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The Immigration Act 2009 comes into effect from 29 November 2010. Until then the Immigration Act 1987 applies. People who hold a visa or permit, or have applied for a visa or permit, do not need to reapply.

The new Act modernises New Zealand’s immigration laws. However, it does not make major changes to the criteria under which people apply to travel to and stay in New Zealand.

Key changes are outlined as follows:

TERMINOLOGY CHANGES

The new Act uses the single term ‘visa’ for authority to travel to and stay in New Zealand. The terms ‘permit’ and ‘exemption’ will no longer be used.

Immigration ‘policy’ will be known as immigration ‘instructions’. This will more clearly distinguish the difference between high-level government policy and the criteria for determining immigration applications [‘instructions’).

The terms ‘residence permits’, ‘residence visas’ and ‘returning resident’s visas will be replaced by ‘resident visas’ and ‘permanent resident visas’ — but there is no change to existing categories or criteria for people wishing to settle in New Zealand.

A NEW SPONSORSHIP SYSTEM

Sponsors of people coming to New Zealand will be responsible for all aspects of maintenance, accommodation and repatriation (or deportation) of the sponsored person. More specific criteria for sponsors are also being introduced.

For temporary entry visas, this broader obligation will be in place for the whole time the sponsored person is in New Zealand.

For resident visas, this obligation will be in place for a specific period.

Another change allows organisations (companies, charitable trusts and societies) and government agencies to sponsor individuals in some circumstances.

These new categories of sponsors will be eligible to support visitor visas and also work to-residence and residence-from—work visas under the ‘talent’ category (arts, culture and sports).

RETURNING RESIDENTS’ VISAS

Successful residence applicants will generally be granted a ‘resident visa’ with two years of ‘travel conditions’.

This will allow:

• travel to New Zealand (if the holder is offshore);
• indefinite stay in New Zealand;
• and multiple re-entry to New Zealand within the validity of the resident visa travel conditions.

The term ‘returning resident’s visa’ (RRV) will no longer be used, however, current RRV holders do not need to do anything other than follow the conditions of their current visa or permit.

‘Permanent resident visas’ will replace indefinite RRVs and will allow the indefinite right to enter New Zealand.

The requirements to progress from a ‘resident visa’ to a ‘permanent resident visa’ will be similar to the current requirements to progress from a ‘non-indefinite RRV’ to an ‘indefinite RRV’.

People who hold ‘residence visas’, ‘residence permits’ and ‘non- indefinite RRVs’ on 29 November 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘resident visas’ with the appropriate travel conditions.

People who hold ‘indefinite RRVs’ on 29 November 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘permanent resident visas’ with indefinite rights to enter New Zealand.

‘ENDORSEMENTS’ FOR NEW ZEALAND CITIZEN FOREIGN PASSPORTS

‘Endorsements’ will replace ‘returning resident’s visas’ for New Zealand citizens who wish to travel on a foreign passport.

REFUGEES

The 2009 Act retains New Zealand’s commitment to the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

In addition, the Act incorporates New Zealand’s immigration- related obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

This means ‘protected person’ claims under the CAT and ICCPR will be determined alongside refugee status claims.

There are also new provisions to manage potential abuses of New Zealand’s asylum process.

These include declining to consider refugee status claims from people who create grounds for their claim by acting other than in good faith.

Individuals may appeal this decision.

STREAMLINING APPEALS

The 2009 Act maintains existing appeal rights and sets up one independent body to hear appeals — the Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT), which will be administered by the Ministry of Justice.

The IPT replaces the current Removal Review Authority, Residence Review Board, Refugee Status Appeals Authority and Deportation Review Tribunal.

Where there is more than one ground for appeal, for example, on facts and humanitarian grounds, both grounds must be lodged together.

A NEW CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH SPECIAL SAFEGUARDS

Classified information relating to security or criminal conduct will be able to be used in decision making, if agreed by the Minister of Immigration.

Special safeguards balance the right of the Government to use all available information in deciding who may travel to, enter and stay in New Zealand, and the rights of foreign nationals.

STREAMLINING THE DEPORTATION PROCESS

The deportation process will be simplified to better balance efficiency with fairness.

The terms ‘removal’ and ‘revocation’ will no longer be used, and instead, the single term ‘deportation’ will be used.

People who are deported will be prohibited from re-entering New Zealand for two years, five years or permanently, depending on the seriousness of the situation.

COMPLIANCE, DETENTION AND MONITORING

The 2009 Act establishes a flexible approach to monitoring and detaining foreign nationals who are considered to be a threat to the integrity of the immigration system or the security and safety of New Zealand.

This includes arrest and detention by police for up to 96 hours and detention under a court-issued ‘warrant of commitment’ for up to 28 days.

The new Act provides immigration officers with powers that could previously only be carried out by Police or Customs officers on behalf of Immigration, for example, to enter and search planes or ships.

Where the powers are new for immigration officers, they will be brought into force only when Cabinet is satisfied that the appropriate training and operating instructions have been developed, and that appropriate safeguards are in place.

BIOMETRICS AND INFORMATION SHARING

The Act also allows foreign nationals’ (not New Zealand citizens’) personal information, including biometric information, to be shared with some other agencies nationally and internationally to address immigration and identity fraud; and manage the safety and security of New Zealand.

In addition, foreign national’s personal information can be shared with other New Zealand agencies to check eligibility for publicly- funded services (such as health services).

The relevant provisions will only come into force once Cabinet is satisfied that robust procedures and processes are in place and that there is appropriate protection for individuals, consistent with the Privacy Act 1993.

EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS

The 2009 Act narrows the ‘reasonable excuse’ defence for employing a foreign national not entitled to work in New Zealand. Employers will therefore need to check work entitlement more carefully than previously.

To help speed up the employment process, the Department of Labour has set up an online system — called VisaView — to allow employers to check a job applicant’s entitlement to work and any conditions.

The system is designed to be quick and easy to use, and to protect individual privacy.

EDUCATION

The 2009 Act increases penalties against education providers who fail to comply with their immigration obligations.

However, providers of compulsory education will not be prosecuted for enrolling a child who is unlawfully in New Zealand.

AIRLINES

The 2009 Act will create an infringement system for airlines that fail to meet their immigration obligations.

This will be similar to the Australian system, where airline compliance has increased.

This provision is due to come into effect at a later date.

INTERIM VISAS

The 2009 Act will introduce a new ‘interim visa’.

These may be granted if a foreign national has applied for a further temporary visa. This will maintain the individual’s lawful status in New Zealand while his or her application is being considered.

This provision is due to come into effect in early 2011.

The 2009 Act enables specific biometric information to be collected, stored and used — for example, photographs, fingerprints and iris scans — to verify a foreign national’s identity.

25/10/10 - Immigration NZ moves to reduce chance of corruption

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In a bid to reduce risk of internal corruption, Immigration New Zealand will stop accepting cash as a method of payment from late next month.

More than 30 staff at the agency have been investigated for misconduct, including fraud and corruption this year and at least seven officials have been sacked.

The service said all branches in this country and most overseas would no longer accept cash from November 29.

"Many of our offshore branches are already cashless and this approach is being extended because it reduces the security risks for staff and saves time in cash handling and payment processing," said head of immigration Nigel Bickle.

Only branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Jakarta and Moscow would continue to accept cash because they did not have alternatives, he said.

"To ensure customers have choices in how they pay fees, only branches with two or more payment alternatives will be eliminating cash as a method of payment."

Immigration New Zealand says the shift is enabled by regulations under the Immigration Act 2009.

Agnes Granada, of Migrant Action Trust, says paying by cash is the method of choice for most migrants and turning cashless shows the agency is not in tune with its customers.

"We cannot assume that all migrants are rich and carry credit cards. There are those who are only familiar with dealing in cash, especially those living in some Asian countries, and this will just make it more difficult for them to make their payments," said Ms Granada.

"I cannot believe that the New Zealand dollar, which should be legal tender in New Zealand, will not be legal tender at Immigration New Zealand."

An immigration adviser, whose clients are mainly from India, did not believe going cashless would eradicate corruption in places such as New Delhi.

"There is a culture of corruption everywhere in India, and corrupt officials will continue to demand getting paid through other means," said the adviser, who did not want to be named.

But Ming Tiang, a licensed immigration adviser who runs Chiwi Immigration Services, said the change would make it easier for agents.

"Currently, some of our clients are giving us bundles of cash to take to Immigration," he said.

"It takes time to count the money, and paying by cashless methods such as credit card will mean a little less work for us."

Meanwhile, the Government has said it will refund money to Samoan nationals who were overcharged for residency applications because of an administration glitch.

Immigration had identified 741 Samoan applicants who did not get a $90 fee discount they were entitled to because of an administrative error, which had been corrected. So far 157 have responded and 145 have been refunded.

(Source Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald)

24/10/10 - Fewer immigrants coming to work in NZ

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The shaky financial situation is seeing immigrants squeezed out of the New Zealand labour market.

Some 7000 fewer work permits were approved in the year to the end of June, compared with the previous year.

New Zealand depends on immigration to maintain its population and to fill skill shortages.

However, with unemployment at 6.8%, the Immigration Department says jobs for New Zealanders must be the priority.

Immigration's policy is to decline to renew temporary work permits if there are New Zealanders out of work who could do the job.

The department says it believes the flow of immigrants coming to work here will revive when the economy picks up.

It says the annual target of having 45,000 - 50,000 people coming to settle here permanently is still being met.

But Auckland University economics Professor Sholeh Maani says a reduction in immigration decreases growth.

In Auckland, 40% of the population are from overseas and overall, 25% of New Zealand's workforce is foreign born.

(Source Radio New Zealand)

21/10/10 - Double-dip recession unlikely: economist

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New Zealand's economic recovery may be slow, but is unlikely to fall back into recession despite uncertainties in the global economy and the impact of the Canterbury earthquake, ASB said.

The latest ASB Quarterly Economic Forecast said although the pace of the New Zealand recovery was very slow for some, the recovery was expected to continue.

"We have stressed for some time now that the recovery out of the recession is going to be gradual as the economy rebalances," ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said.

"It has been a particularly rough time for mainlanders over the last couple of months, with the receivership of South Canterbury Finance, the Canterbury earthquake, and the heavy snowstorms that affected Southland in the midst of lambing season," he said.

"The Canterbury Earthquake will have the most resounding impact on the New Zealand economy, affecting the wealth of the country from several quarters, including through accumulated spending on insurance premiums and tax, as well as the personal costs to those who have sustained damage to their properties and businesses. Our estimates suggest that the Canterbury Earthquake is likely to shave off around 0.2 percentage points from the September quarter growth.

"However the December quarter is likely to receive a substantial boost as the early stages of construction kick in."

Tuffley said a global recovery was now underway despite some commentators highlighting the risks of a double-dip recession in the US and elsewhere.

"This preoccupation with a double-dip recession overlooks that a weak recovery has long been part of global economic forecasts, and ignores some positive economic developments.

"For example, the US is benefitting from a massive productivity boost and competitive gains, while the Asian region has outperformed, despite US and European export markets remaining subdued," he says.

"All of these factors are impacting on our local situation. However the silver lining from a New Zealand perspective is that with our economy continuing to look somewhat sluggish, the Reserve Bank is likely to keep interest rates on hold until March."

ASB said it expects New Zealand to continue on a 'slow and winding' path to recovery, without a 'second dip' along the way.

(Source NZ Herald)

22/10/10 - Make te reo compulsory'

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New Zealand's largest education union says te reo Maori should be compulsory in all schools to ensure it's kept alive.

After the release of a Waitangi Tribunal report calling for urgent action to turn around a decline in te reo, the New Zealand Educational Institute said it was everyone's responsibility to ensure the language survived.

The report recommended introducing targets for training teachers in te reo.

(Source NZ Herald)

21/10/10 - Overstayer: 'I should be allowed to stay with my son'

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Overstayer Geeta Praveen Samujh is fighting to stay in New Zealand to be with her month-old son, who is a New Zealand citizen by birth because his father is a permanent resident.

Immigration New Zealand has sent a letter to Ms Samujh encouraging her to depart the country voluntarily because she has been in New Zealand unlawfully for two years and 10 months.

Changes to the Immigration Act next month will mean the service can manage overstayers quite differently and, depending on circumstances, may even detain some in secure detention or require them to report regularly.

"Immigration New Zealand has not served a removal order on Ms Samujh. She has been sent a letter advising her of her status and that she should make arrangements to leave New Zealand as soon as possible," said Nigel Bickle, Head of Immigration.

"She has also been provided with the contact details of a compliance officer if she needs to discuss her options."

Mr Bickle said it cost the agency an average of $2450 for a person to be deported.

Ms Samujh, 37, first came to New Zealand from Fiji as a student in 1992 on a New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee scholarship and then again on a work permit in 2006, which was revoked when it was discovered that she had ceased working for her employer without notifying the service.

She gave birth to a baby boy - who she has not yet named - last month but has since separated from her son's father, who is a resident.

"I have to be in New Zealand with my son who has a health condition and it is not possible for me to take him back with me if I am deported," Ms Samujh said.

"I do not have any family in Fiji and have lived in New Zealand for nine years.

"In accordance with principles of natural justice and fairness, I should be allowed to stay with my son as he needs me."

Immigration New Zealand says it has been advised by Ms Samujh that she has a child who is a New Zealand citizen but she has not provided a birth certificate.

"If the decision is made to remove a person from New Zealand, the care of any New Zealand citizen children is the responsibility of the parents," the agency said.

(Source Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald)

22/10/10 - Increase in migrant numbers offers boost to economy

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The net inflow of migrants gathered pace last month, promising a degree of support for a flagging economy.

After dwindling steadily to almost zero during the first half of the year, permanent and long-term migration has rebounded in the past three months, reaching a seasonally adjusted net gain of 1070 last month.

For the year ended September the net gain was 13,900, which is 2000 higher than the average over the past 20 years.

"It is early days but this recovery in net migration is encouraging in the sense that a few months back it was threatening to turn negative," Goldman Sachs economist Philip Borkin said.

"If recent trends are sustained it should help to allay concerns over pending labour shortages. It will also help to provide a floor under the housing market and domestic demand."

ASB economist Christina Leung said modest population growth would support a gradual recovery in housing construction and retail spending over the coming years.

The figures count people who say in their airport arrival or departure cards that they have lived overseas for the past year or intend to for the next 12 months.

Statistics NZ said the rebound was due to a recovery in arrivals, while departures remained steady at around 6100 a month.

Last month saw a net loss of 1500 people to Australia. Over the past year twice as many people left for Australia as came the other way for a net loss of 18,100 people.

That was offset by a net inflow of 6300 from the UK, 5900 from India and 3500 from China.

(Source Brian Fallow, NZ Herald)

21/10/10 - Fewer NZers moving to Oz to live

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Fewer New Zealanders are crossing the ditch to live.

Latest figures show just over 18-thousand kiwis migrated to Australia last month.

That's a substantial drop on the 23 thousand who quit the country for Australia in September last year - and well down on the almost 34 thousand who went to went to live there in September 2008.

New Zealand had a net migration gain of one-thousand-100 people last month.

(Source Newstalk ZB)