Displaying 1 - 24 of 86 results.

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Paula Bennett
  • Social Development
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Steven Joyce
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment
  • Immigration

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. 

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration
  • Budget 2014

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Simon Bridges
  • Labour
  • Immigration
  • Budget 2014

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

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.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has welcomed new figures showing New Zealand overstayer numbers are continuing to fall. 

“A new report estimates 13,151 overstayers are living in New Zealand. This is the lowest number this century, down 893 (6.3%) from last year, and 33 per cent lower than the 2005 estimate of nearly 20,000,” Mr Woodhouse says.

The estimated rate of overstaying (the number of overstayers compared with the number of temporary arrivals) is now very small by international standards at around 5 in 10,000 (0.05%).

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a new business visa policy to encourage migrants to set up high-quality businesses in New Zealand to help create local jobs and support economic growth.

“New Zealand needs to attract talented, enterprising, well-connected business people to invest and grow businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced a review of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, which regulates immigration advice and created the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) and the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.

“The Act is now more than five years old and a review is timely to ensure the new system is working as effectively and efficiently as possible.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

A bill to crack down on employers who exploit migrant workers and improve the effectiveness of our immigration system has passed its first reading in Parliament today.

“The Immigration Amendment Bill (No 2) forms part of a package of actions this Government is taking to address the exploitation of migrants. It follows changes in June to encourage victims of exploitation to come forward without fear of being penalised,” Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Mr Speaker, I move that the Immigration Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a first time. 

I nominate the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee to consider the Bill.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has announced his decision to grant New Zealand residence to nine Afghan interpreters and 26 family members.

“Local interpreters worked on the front lines with New Zealand personnel in Afghanistan. The Government recognises its duty of care to these men and their wives and children, and is committed to fulfilling that duty,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

The Government has announced a package of new initiatives to encourage further growth in New Zealand's $2.6 billion international education sector.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Steven Joyce
  • Immigration
  • Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse today introduced a new Bill to Parliament that will crack down on employers who exploit migrant workers.

Under the Immigration Amendment Bill such employers will face a jail sentence of up to seven years, a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both. Exploitative employers who hold residence visas will also be liable for deportation if the offence was committed within 10 years of gaining residence.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse is welcoming new research from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on the impact of temporary migration on jobs and wages in New Zealand.

Using figures from MBIE, Statistics New Zealand and Inland Revenue, The Rise of Temporary Migration and its Impact on the New Zealand Labour Market is the first report of its kind that specifically considers the effect of temporary migration over the past decade on existing workers.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Good morning and thank you for asking me along to speak to your conference today.

I want to start by acknowledging Peter Townsend, MC for the Conference, and Walter Stone, Chairman of your Association. It’s very important for me to come here to address you as members of New Zealand’s largest immigration adviser association. Developing and maintaining a good relationship with key stakeholders such as the NZAMI is crucial in ensuring we work as collegially and constructively as possible towards our goal of bringing the best people to New Zealand.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse has travelled to Indonesia to attend a major regional conference on people smuggling and trafficking.

The Special Conference on the Irregular Movement of Persons is being held in Jakarta today and will discuss prevention, protection, early detection, and the prosecution of people smugglers in the Asia-Pacific region.

“New Zealand recognises that people smuggling and human trafficking are significant regional problems that require countries to work together to find regional solutions,” Mr Woodhouse says.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration

It’s an honour for me to be invited here today to open your 11th annual conference. I’m sure you will have some fruitful and robust discussions over the next couple of days.

Having been Minister of Immigration for just over six months now I’ve been doing plenty of reflection on immigration policy and process and I want to talk to you today about my priorities as Minister of Immigration and the practical measures the Government is taking to deal with some of the key issues we are facing.

  • Michael Woodhouse
  • Immigration