New Immigration Policy

7 June 2007

Media Release

New Immigration Policy

The switch to a more proactive immigration policy to recruit skills from offshore is badly needed and welcomed.

“Almost all businesses in Auckland have a skill shortage of some kind and we could probably do with around 40,000 skilled migrants immediately,” said Auckland Chamber CEO Michael Barnett.

“There is no question that if New Zealand is to compete with other countries also recruiting hard for skilled immigrants, we will have to lift our game”, said Mr Barnett.

Noting that the Minister’s policy released yesterday was a first among a number of initiatives aimed at overcoming skill shortages and attracting more business migrant investors, he said for the policy to be successful it will need strong back up with a communication programme and attitude change.

“The success of this policy will be about the story we tell of the opportunities we have in this country.”

Mr Barnett said the new policy would enable the Chamber to expand its own programme to assist new skilled migrants into employment by allowing a recruitment website to be established to recruit skills directly from offshore and into employment.

ENDS

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