The New Zealand government announced on Tuesday that it will create two additional residency pathways for migrants, part of a strategy aimed at supporting economic growth.
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis said in the statement that skilled and experienced migrants play an important role in plugging workforce gaps, and in turn help businesses to grow.
“Businesses told us it was too hard for some migrants to gain residence, even when they had crucial skills and significant experience that was not available in the existing workforce. We’re fixing it,” she said.
From mid-2026, the government will roll out two distinct streams: the Skilled Work Experience pathway and the Trades and Technician pathway.
The first targets migrants in roles classified under ANZSCO Levels 1-3 who have at least five years of relevant job experience (with at least two years’ work inside New Zealand) and earn at least 1.1 times the current median wage.
The second residency path will accommodate those in specified trade or technical occupations holding Level-4 or higher qualifications, with four years’ post-qualification experience including a minimum of 18 months in New Zealand at or above the median wage.
New Pathways
The new pathways are for skilled workers and tradespeople and technicians, and require them to have relevant experience both overseas and in New Zealand and to meet salary thresholds, the statement said.
Business groups have welcomed the change, saying it will help fill labour shortages and give firms confidence to plan long term.
New Zealand’s economy has been struggling having seen negative growth in three of the last five quarters and the government has been introducing a number of policies aimed at supporting it, including boosting foreign investment in the country.
While the country’s net migration has remained positive, it has come off the highs seen following the reopening of the borders in 2022 as a historically high number of New Zealanders leave.
Government coalition partner New Zealand First said it does not support the policy.
(With inputs from Reuters)
