Welcome mat out for skilled migrants
Major immigration changes will allow an uncapped number of skilled migrants to come to New Zealand but questions have been raised about the current visa processing backlog
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Thursday, October 13, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: Covid cases more than double in Wellington; National will support whatever farmers want on agri-emissions scheme; law change not off the cards to allow police photography but first; proposed skilled migrant scheme goes limitless
The new proposal would remove a cap on skilled migrant visa numbers (Image: Getty)
No cap on number of skilled migrants
New policy settings for residency for skilled migrants will kick in next year following a period of consultation. The new proposal would remove a cap on skilled migrant visa numbers, although immigration minister Michael Wood thinks the numbers might top out around 20,000. RNZ outlines how the scheme would work with a handy chart. Applications under the existing points-based system will also reopen next month. Making good on a 2020 election campaign promise, the residency for parents scheme will also re-open. The income thresholds have been criticised by the Green party for prioritising family reunification for high income earners.
Migration figures show ‘brain drain’ stabilising
As Liam Dann writes (paywalled), New Zealand continues to struggle to attract workers with departures to Australia still going strong, but the “brain drain” is showing signs of stabilising. We had a small net migration gain of 47 in August but an overall loss of 11,000 people for the year ending August. Opposition spokesperson for immigration, Erica Stanford wanted to know how immigration officials were going to cope with visa processing given the current backlog. Malcolm Pacific Immigration chief executive David Cooper said in the parent's category, some families are facing another four years before their visas are approved.
A master’s degree now a one-year pathway to residency
Jen Mueller, who chairs the Licenced Immigration Adviser Association, thinks the focus on tertiary qualifications as part of the criteria for the new scheme will be a boost for universities. A master’s degree would give applicants five points under the new system. A job offer after completion plus a year of working and you’d have the six points required for residency. Mueller says it won’t help ease shortages of hospitality workers or tradespeople. Also unlikely to ease the bus driver shortage, an issue which could be on the list of topics to discuss when Wood, in his capacity as transport minister, meets Auckland mayor Wayne Brown.
Nursing shortage still in critical condition
I suspect a few people who knew this immigration announcement was coming wondered if it was going to be about adding nurses to the Green List. It was not. Only 22 nurses have arrived in the country since August, while the Nursing Council estimates about 4000 are needed. Speaking to Checkpoint on Tuesday, health minister Andrew Little said immigration was only part of the issue, a point perhaps illustrated by a Checkpoint story last night about nurses getting paid more as stop/go workers.
Making sustainable business attainable
As consumer demand for sustainable business grows, for many small businesses the costs involved remain prohibitive. A new Kiwibank business loan aims to change that by helping businesses get loans for sustainability initiatives easier than ever before. Liam Rātana spoke with East by West Ferry and Chia Sisters about how sustainability has impacted their businesses for the better. Read their stories on The Spinoff now (sponsored)
Covid cases more than double in Wellington area in a week
Modeller Michael Plank thinks it is looking increasingly likely that another wave of Covid is on the way for New Zealand. His comments come after Ministry of Health numbers show that case numbers in the Wellington area on Monday were more than twice what they were one week earlier. Across the country the Ministry of Health reported 11,205 new Covid cases in the past week, up from 9975 cases the week before. There were a range of new omicron variants mentioned in a Ministry of Health report this week, including BQ 1.1 which is rising rapidly in Europe.
National backing the farmers, Shaw calls Luxon ‘confused’
After what was described as a “cautious” response to the proposed agricultural emissions scheme on Tuesday, opposition leader Christopher Luxon came out swinging yesterday. Luxon said the current proposal was unacceptable and that National would “support what farmers want”. Climate minister James Shaw called the response “confused”. If you’re after an in-depth read on this issue, Bernard Hickey deploys the Kubler-Ross stages of grief model to contrast the pace at which we and politicians might move versus the planetary elements driving climate change. Farmer’s Weekly editor Bryan Gibson gets above the fray by suggesting too many conversations about politics are about what we oppose and not what we want for the future.
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Police minister would support law change to allow practice found to be illegal
Chris Hipkins told police at a conference yesterday he would support them challenging a report which condemned the taking of fingerprint data and photographs of youths. The practice was uncovered via RNZ reporting and a report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Privacy Commissioner found it was illegal. Hipkins said photography was an essential part of intelligence gathering for police. Indigenous data specialist Karaitiana Taiuru said he was shocked. "To me, it's almost like legislating discrimination against young Māori by the police.”
Click and collect
Gloriavale representatives will appear for the first time at the Abuse in Care inquiry today.
Nine new cases of Monkeypox via community transmission, vaccine not arriving until December.
The swearing in of a new MP will mark a very significant milestone for New Zealand’s parliament.
The bird struck off the ballot for Bird of the Year.
Legs are finally coming to Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse. (Sorry, I just found this headline extremely funny.)
Got some feedback about The Bulletin, or anything in the news? Get in touch with me at thebulletin@thespinoff.co.nz.
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The What’s On Invers Facebook page purports to be "the largest media organisation in the far South" – but it’s attracted criticism for sharing “racist” cartoons and “anti-vax” propaganda. Stewart Sowman-Lund investigates. Alex Casey meets the vets and volunteers who go to great lengths to save the thousands of sick and injured patients brought into Birdcare every year. Rachel Judkins appreciates the growing number of Little Libraries and Pātaka Kai dotted around our neighbourhoods. Ben Gracewood pays tribute to the shiny metal box that changed the way he cooks. And Sam Brooks reviews a new documentary that provides a necessary insight into our shameful past.
A super sports bundle
A whole lot of sports news, so let’s bundle it. The Silver Ferns beat Australia in the first game of the Constellation Cup last night. Ten days out from the start of the T20 World Cup, the Black Caps defeated Bangladesh in the Twenty20 tri-series in Christchurch. Danny Hay's tenure as All White coach ends this month and he's decided not to seek re-appointment. ASB confirm commitment to tennis tournament but stop short of clarifying the naming issues (mentioned in yesterday’s Bulletin). The Black Ferns training method for coping with big crowd support noise. Their next Rugby World Cup game is against Wales at Waitākere Stadium in Auckland on Sunday.
