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Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a 10-week window will apply to the Trans-Tasman visa agreement for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

“From 26 January to 5 April 2015, cricket fans and other visitors to Australia and New Zealand will only need to apply for one visa under a new Trans-Tasman Visa Arrangement,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse have announced plans for a new programme aimed at getting more Kiwis into seasonal work, alongside an increase to the annual RSE cap.

Mr Woodhouse says the need to raise the cap on Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from 8000 to 9000 demonstrates the success of the RSE scheme.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today announced that nationals of Macao Special Administrative Region of China (Macao) will no longer need a visitor visa to travel to New Zealand for a short visit.

“The visa waiver will make it easier for Macao nationals to come to New Zealand, which will create opportunities for business, cultural and social exchanges,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This agreement recognises the growing engagement between New Zealand and Macao.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has marked World Refugee Day and paid tribute to the agencies and individuals that work all year round to help support the resettlement of refugees.

“World Refugee Day reminds us of our shared responsibility to act to address the terrible suffering of 33 million people now displaced worldwide,” says Mr Woodhouse.

International student numbers in New Zealand look set to grow again following the worst effects of the global financial crisis and the Christchurch earthquakes, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse say.

The International Education Snapshot: 2013 full year report, released today, provides a snapshot of the trends in New Zealand’s international education industry for the 2013 academic year.

I’d like to start by thanking the hosts of this conference – the Salvation Army, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, and the New Zealand Police – for inviting me to open the two day Prevent People Trafficking Conference. 

The Government will invest an extra $5.6 million in operating spending over the next four years to help newly arrived quota refugees during their first 12 months in New Zealand, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

All quota refugees spend their first six weeks at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre, before being resettled in five regions throughout New Zealand: Auckland, Waikato, Manawatu, Wellington and Nelson.

The Government is spending more than $7 million over the next four years to boost the number of labour inspectors and immigration officers dealing with the Canterbury rebuild.

The money will be used to fund an additional six labour inspectors and seven immigration staff, including three compliance officers and two investigators, and will result in an extra 20 investigations of serious or high-profile cases over an initial 18-month period.

It will also deliver an employment standards audit programme for businesses associated with rebuild activity.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a new three year multiple-entry visa to make it easier for Turkish business people and diplomats to visit New Zealand.

Mr Woodhouse made the announcement during a visit to Turkey, where he is meeting with his Australian and Turkish counterparts to discuss next year’s planned centenary events and attending the 99th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

“New Zealand and Turkey have a special relationship through Gallipoli,” Mr Woodhouse says.

A new business visa will encourage migrants to set up high-quality businesses and create new jobs, according to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse.

“Starting today, the new Entrepreneur Work Visa will help New Zealand attract talented, well-connected business people to invest and grow businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Woodhouse says.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse is welcoming two reports out today showing that net migration is continuing to increase as fewer people leave New Zealand and more people are permanently migrating.

The 13th annual Migration Trends and Outlook report confirms that 7900 more people moved to New Zealand in 2012/13 than left for overseas – reversing the situation of a year earlier when there was a net migration loss of 3200.

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced the government will resettle up to 100 refugees in need of urgent protection from the situation in Syria.

“The humanitarian situation in Syria is deteriorating by the day and the UNHCR has called on the international community for assistance,” Mr Woodhouse says.