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A significant Government investment in Immigration New Zealand’s IT system is a further step in increasing immigration’s contribution to the economy, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman today announced the Government is contributing $75 million towards a new IT system.

‘’This IT initiative is a major step up in INZ’s ability to provide timely, responsive and secure immigration services,’’ says Dr Coleman.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman represented New Zealand at the fourth Bali Democracy Forum this week.

The two-day Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, was an opportunity for countries to share their experiences and best practices on democracy with a view to encouraging wider cooperation on strengthening democratic institutions in Asia and the Pacific.

Established by Indonesia in 2008, The Bali Democracy Forum brings together Heads of State and Foreign Ministers from countries across Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.

Extending the use of biometrics will strengthen New Zealand’s border security and enable Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to speed up visa application processing, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual’s identity and protect New Zealand’s border,’’ Dr Coleman says.

Changes announced today to visa processes for screen, entertainment and music industry workers will support the sector’s growth, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The changes provide a simpler, more streamlined system for the entry of temporary entertainment industry workers into New Zealand.

‘’The existing policy is out-dated. It’s been in place for 20 years and the entertainment industry has grown hugely over that time,’’ says Dr Coleman.

New improvements to the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website will provide a more streamlined and user-friendly service for customers, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’Immigration is committed to improving its customer service. Given the important role immigration plays in bringing visitors, students, skilled migrants and others to New Zealand, services such as the website need to be responsive to customers’ needs,’’ says Dr Coleman.

A new joint Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and Tourism New Zealand office in Shanghai is an important development in facilitating Chinese visitors to New Zealand, says Immigration Minister and Associate Tourism Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman says it signals the Government's response to meeting demand from one of New Zealand's fastest growing tourist markets which is worth around $365 million a year.

"We are seeing more tourists and business visitors from China," says Dr Coleman.

Religious communities across New Zealand will benefit from changes giving religious workers a pathway to residence, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

‘’This new policy provides a path to residency for religious workers as well as an updated temporary work visa for shorter stays. Previously there was no residence option available to religious workers, so some communities were having trouble filling positions long-term, ‘’ Dr Coleman says.

New Zealand’s $2.3 billion dollar export education industry will be strengthened through changes to immigration policy for international students announced today by Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman says ensuring students are genuinely here to study, and enabling the best students to stay on and contribute to New Zealand’s skilled workforce, benefits the sector’s reputation and New Zealand’s economy.

Over $560 million in potential investment capital is poised to flow into the New Zealand economy, and changes to the Government’s business migration scheme will increase investment further, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman confirmed today the Government’s business migration scheme has attracted over half-a-billion dollars in potential investment. Changes have also been made to the policy to increase its appeal to investors.

New Zealand’s tourism sector will benefit from China Southern Airlines’ decision to fly daily from Guangzhou to Auckland, says Associate Tourism Minister Jonathan Coleman.

China Southern has confirmed that later this year it will increase its three-times a week service to daily flights. Dr Coleman says this move is expected to increase the number of visitors on China Southern Airlines to 50,000 a year, worth an estimated $150 million to the economy.

New Zealand’s border security will be strengthened following the signing of an agreement between New Zealand and Canadian immigration authorities, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

The agreement is part of a Five Country Conference (FCC) biometric programme involving the immigration agencies of New Zealand, Canada the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

New Zealand’s commitment to preventing people smuggling and human trafficking will be reinforced at the Bali Process Ministerial Conference, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman is attending the fourth Bali Process in Indonesia this week. The conference brings together Asia-Pacific countries to work on practical measures to help prevent and deter people smuggling and human trafficking.

Barriers to overseas academics visiting New Zealand are being removed with the introduction of a new visitor category, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

The visiting academics visa allows academics from 50 countries, which New Zealand has special visa waiver arrangements with, to travel here without first obtaining a visa offshore. It comes into effect on April 4.

New Zealand’s business, investment and tourism links with India will be strengthened by having a New Zealand Consulate General in Mumbai, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Dr Coleman, who officially opens the Mumbai office tomorrow (NZ time), says a Consulate General in India’s financial capital will help further develop business opportunities between New Zealand and India.

 Immigration New Zealand is issuing automatic six month visa extensions for any foreign national whose work, visitor or student visa application cannot be processed because of the Christchurch earthquake, says Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Immigration.

"Immigration New Zealand's central Christchurch office in the Crystal Plaza building is unable to be accessed for safety reasons. 2000 temporary visa applications are in that office.

Around one third of international students who come to New Zealand stay on following their studies to contribute to our economy and workforce says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Department of Labour research confirms around 31 percent of fee paying international students find work after their studies and around one-fifth gain permanent residence.

New interim visas which benefit migrants, employers and foreign students come into effect today.

‘’Previously there have been issues with people having their immigration status lapse while waiting for a visa to be processed,’’ says Immigration Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

‘’The new interim visas means that if they have an application in with Immigration New Zealand, they are still legally allowed to remain in the country on the terms of their original visa while that application is being processed.

The Government’s business migration scheme has attracted $416 million of potential investment capital that is poised to flow into the economy, Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman announced today.

‘’We developed a policy package that makes New Zealand very attractive to business migrants, and they’re staking their confidence in New Zealand at a time of difficult international financial conditions,’’ Dr Coleman says.

Less red tape and a new visa will make it easier for international students to study in New Zealand says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Under the new Immigration Act, which recently came into effect, interim visas can be granted to students while their applications are being processed. The frequency for which police and medical certificates must be provided is also being extended.

The changes, which commence in February 2011, will help boost the $2 billion a year export education market, says Dr Coleman.

New research released today by the World Bank and Waikato University shows the Government’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is producing positive spin-offs for Tonga and Vanuatu.

RSE, which supplies migrant workers for the local horticulture and viticulture industry when New Zealanders are not available for work, improved per capita income for Pacific households with RSE workers by almost 40 percent.

A more efficient immigration system and enhanced border security are two of the key benefits of the new Immigration Act which comes into effect tomorrow, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

‘’The Immigration Act 2009 significantly modernises New Zealand’s immigration laws and provides us with a robust framework for the future.

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu and Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman today welcomed the swearing in of 16 members of the new Immigration and Protection Tribunal (IPT) in Auckland.

The IPT commences work on Monday, 29 November and will decide all immigration, deportation, refugee and protection appeals in New Zealand.

Established under the Immigration Act 2009, the IPT replaces the current immigration-related appeal bodies and creates a single, ‘one-stop-shop' tribunal to consider all grounds for appeal in one place.

The Labour party is making claims that do not match the facts regarding the reimbursement of overcharged visa fees to Samoan citizens, says Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Justice Minister Simon Power and Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman today announced the appointment of Grant Pearson as the chair of the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal