Party vote

Migration

After grinding to a halt in 2020, immigration levels have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, with NZ gaining over 72,000 people in the year to April. Although not as contentious an issue as in some previous elections, there remain big differences between the parties’ stances. Some emphasise the role of immigration in boosting economic growth, while others emphasise the need to protect the rights of migrants once they’re here.

Migration

After grinding to a halt in 2020, immigration levels have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, with NZ gaining over 72,000 people in the year to April. Although not as contentious an issue as in some previous elections, there remain big differences between the parties’ stances. Some emphasise the role of immigration in boosting economic growth, while others emphasise the need to protect the rights of migrants once they’re here.

Key policiesImmigrationRefugees

  • Encourage dental clinics to hire workers from overseas

    Increase overseas recruitment of senior medical workers

    Introduce a visa for parents or grandparents of migrants who are NZ citizens and residents

    Provide visas for overstayers who have been in NZ for more than 10 years

    Require search warrants to conduct out-of-hours immigration visits

  • Provide more residency pathways for migrants

    Repeal the health test for migrants and refugees

    Make work visas independent from specific employers

    Provide resettlement assistance for the families of refugees and migrants

    Ensure individuals with Māori heritage are eligible for citizenship

    Reinstate the 10-year residency requirement for superannuation eligibility

    Seek mutual healthcare, welfare support, and visa agreements with other countries

    Replace the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Reform policies to support Rainbow asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants

  • Offer automatic six-month work visas to qualified nurses and midwives from overseas

    Provide relocation grants to up to 1000 qualified overseas nurses or midwives

    Increase the cap on seasonal workers

    Explore increasing the number of countries eligible for the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Relax rules for agricultural workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Increase fees for visas

    Make it easier for the construction sector to access skilled migrant workers

    Raise upper age limit for working holiday visas to 35

    Allow additional working holiday visas for people in sectors with worker shortages

    Abolish median wage requirements for work visas

    Relax rules for employers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Allow migrant workers to pay domestic rates for industry training

    Create visa for recent graduates from top universities

    Create a visa for workers from major tech companies

    Create a 'digital nomad' visa

    Introduce a visa for parents or grandparents of migrants who are NZ citizens and residents

    Allow international students to work more hours while studying

    Expand international student recruitment to more countries

    Increase the length of time international postgrad students can work after finishing study

    Enable partners of international students doing degree level qualifications to work in NZ

    Ensure courses which allow international students the right to work post-study reflect skills shortages

  • Consider reducing immigration to reduce housing demand

    Oppose border closures

  • Reduce the minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas

    Review the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Create a visa to encourage workers to regions other than Auckland

    Require investor visa applicants to fund refugee resettlement

  • Streamline NZ's immigration system

    Abolish the Ministry for Ethnic Communities

Key policiesImmigrationRefugees

  • Encourage dental clinics to hire workers from overseas

    Increase overseas recruitment of senior medical workers

    Introduce a visa for parents or grandparents of migrants who are NZ citizens and residents

    Provide visas for overstayers who have been in NZ for more than 10 years

    Require search warrants to conduct out-of-hours immigration visits

  • Provide more residency pathways for migrants

    Repeal the health test for migrants and refugees

    Make work visas independent from specific employers

    Provide resettlement assistance for the families of refugees and migrants

    Ensure individuals with Māori heritage are eligible for citizenship

    Reinstate the 10-year residency requirement for superannuation eligibility

    Seek mutual healthcare, welfare support, and visa agreements with other countries

    Replace the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Reform policies to support Rainbow asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants

  • Offer automatic six-month work visas to qualified nurses and midwives from overseas

    Provide relocation grants to up to 1000 qualified overseas nurses or midwives

    Increase the cap on seasonal workers

    Explore increasing the number of countries eligible for the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Relax rules for agricultural workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Increase fees for visas

    Make it easier for the construction sector to access skilled migrant workers

    Raise upper age limit for working holiday visas to 35

    Allow additional working holiday visas for people in sectors with worker shortages

    Abolish median wage requirements for work visas

    Relax rules for employers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Allow migrant workers to pay domestic rates for industry training

    Create visa for recent graduates from top universities

    Create a visa for workers from major tech companies

    Create a 'digital nomad' visa

    Introduce a visa for parents or grandparents of migrants who are NZ citizens and residents

    Allow international students to work more hours while studying

    Expand international student recruitment to more countries

    Increase the length of time international postgrad students can work after finishing study

    Enable partners of international students doing degree level qualifications to work in NZ

    Ensure courses which allow international students the right to work post-study reflect skills shortages

  • Consider reducing immigration to reduce housing demand

    Oppose border closures

  • Reduce the minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas

    Review the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Create a visa to encourage workers to regions other than Auckland

    Require investor visa applicants to fund refugee resettlement

  • Streamline NZ's immigration system

    Abolish the Ministry for Ethnic Communities

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