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02 Jul 08
New Zealand's record tourism expenditure result of "pristine environment"
New Zealand's tourism is drawing record amounts of income for the country, according to the Tourism Satellite Account: 2007 published by Statistics New Zealand. In the year to March 2007, New Zealand's tourism expenditure was up nearly five per cent to $20 billion, and Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor says sustainable approaches are playing a major part.
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02 Jul 08
Australia says G’day to Israel
Australia announced plans to host a week-long festival in Israel next year in an attempt to raise the country’s profile. The G’day Israel festival will be similar to G’day USA-Australia Week, which has been running since 1994 and showcases all that is Australian to Americans, reports JTA news.
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02 Jul 08
Nick Cave’s semi-naked statue for tourism promotion set in stone
Nick Cave has promised to erect a "larger-than-life" bronze statue of his shirtless self riding a horse in his rural hometown of Warracknabeal, 200 miles north-west of Melbourne, reports the Mail Times. The Brighton-based rock star is hoping to encourage tourists to visit the area to see the sculpture.
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02 Jul 08
Biometric data of NZ immigrants to be stored on new ICT system
New Zealand’s Department of Labour are reviewing a tender for an upgrade to the computerised immigration information system. The new system will allow the Department of Immigration to store biometric information from all immigration applications.
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01 Jul 08
One million homes needed for Australian immigration
Australian immigration is fuelling the construction sector in the country, as it is estimated an extra one million homes are needed to house the increase in population. According to the Housing Industry Association (HIA) the current housing supply needs to increase by at least this amount and the new homes are needed in the next five years.
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01 Jul 08
Temporary Australian visa holders given better conditions
New plans from the Australian government include better working conditions for temporary visa holders. The plans from the Rudd government include harsher penalties for employers of workers on temporary Australian visas (subclass 457) and increased powers for immigration officers.
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01 Jul 08
Backpackers Down Under say they are keen to travel green
Young Australian travellers are saying they are choosing the "greener" option if it is available, says the New Zealand Herald. Contiki Holidays, an international travel coach company, recently conducted research about the perspectives of travelling and discovered young Australian travellers are conscious about the possible effects of their holiday.
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01 Jul 08
Aussie dollar strong, house prices down, Australian immigration looking more attractive
The Australian dollar, or the "Aussie", is controllably soaring at the moment, reaching a 25 year high against the US dollar. With property prices looking to take a turn, and the national immigration policy opening Australia to the world, the country is set to attract more migrants than ever.
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30 Jun 08
Australian Immigration Minister announces proposed changes to 457 visas
Senator Chris Evans, Australian Immigration Minister, released a discussion paper today about his government’s proposed changes to the 457 temporary skilled visa scheme. Under the proposed new scheme, special investigatory officers will have the authority to enter the workplace to ensure immigrant workers are not being exploited.
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30 Jun 08
The Maori Party leader says indigenous people should be involved in forming immigration policy
Tariana Turia, co-leader of the Maori Party, addressed the Annual General Meeting for the Ethnic Councils in Wellington on Saturday about immigration policy. Ms Turia believes the Government needs to develop systems for Maori people to help immigrants and refugees settle in to the country and develop positive relationships.
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30 Jun 08
"Boomerang migrants" leaving UK for a safer Australian economy
Australian migrants have been leaving the UK at rates far surpassing previous years, reports the Times, leaving London with a "brain drain".
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