03 November 2006

NZ: Marlborough added to regions with an absolute labour shortage

Immigration New Zealand have announced that from the 6th November 2006, visitors looking to undertake employment under the Seasonal Work Permit policy will be able to do so in Marlborough.

The Ministry of Social Development has identified Marlborough as a region with an absolute labour shortage, allowing the horticulture and viticulture industries in the area access to temporary workers on Seasonal Work Permits (SWP).

The pilot scheme, introduced in December 2005, allows visitors to the country to extend their stay to take up paid work in the horticulture and viticulture industries and relieve critical labour shortages.

Seasonal work is defined as

• planting crops
• maintaining crops
• harvesting crops
• packing crops.

Under the SWP policy:

• Holders of current SWPs may be granted a new SWP extending their total time working in New Zealand on a SWP for a period not exceeding 9 months in any 12 month period.
• Applicants who do not currently hold a SWP may be granted a SWP for a period not exceeding 6 months in any 12 month period.
• Applicants from countries whose citizens do not require a visa to enter New Zealand must be on a valid temporary permit when they apply for a SWP.
• Applicants from countries whose citizens require visas to enter New Zealand must have been lawfully in New Zealand on 15 September 2006, and continued to be lawfully in New Zealand up until the date of application for a SWP.
• No SWP will be granted for a period beyond 30 September 2007.

As with the current policy, permits will only be granted for work in regions where the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has declared an absolute labour shortage. Presently the MSD has declared shortages in:

• Marlborough
• Central Otago
• Western Bay of Plenty.