‘Kiwis come home’ campaign needs business policies

‘Kiwis come home’ campaign needs business policies to match

The recruitment campaign to get Kiwis back home is timely and welcome, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

The campaign would be a red carpet offer too good to refuse if Government also rolled out a suite of business promotion policies to match its recruitment drive, said Alasdair Thompson, EMA’s chief executive.

“We know Kiwis in Australia are higher skilled and earn more than the average Australian so they will be reluctant to come back unless business here is as good as it is over there,” Mr Thompson said.

“The average Australian earns about $200 a week more than his kiwi counterpart here.

“Expatriate New Zealanders want to see our Government committed to filling the gaping infrastructure holes in our road transport, electricity generation and distribution, broadband, and investment in productivity raising plant & technology, R&D & innovation.

“Kiwis at home need to hear Government promote the idea that without business making and selling high value goods and services no one would have any income at all.

“Introducing a grievance-free probationary employment term for new employees would help overcome some of the barriers to the employment of new migrants other than returning Kiwis.

“The Government campaign is timely as it comes when immigration is still dipping and combined with signs of a rise in the numbers of New Zealanders heading offshore.

“Recruiting Kiwis offshore would be highly effective if business growth policies were promoted with the same enthusiasm as Immigration Minister Paul Swain is showing for the recruitment drive.

“A Government commitment to reducing taxes, road user charges, petrol and other energy costs, and to reducing business compliance would make a great complement to the ‘Kiwis come home’ campaign.

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