What will 2021 deliver?

The government has some big decisions to make next year. It remains to be seen what their priorities or timelines are but here is our list of problems needing a fix:

• Decide the next residence programme (how many resident visas can be issued every year by Immigration NZ). The last programme expired 31/12/2019 and a decision is long overdue.
• Instruct Immigration NZ to prioritise the processing of Investor Visa applications. There is almost NZD 3 billion of potential investment funds ready to flow into New Zealand sitting in a slow moving queue in Wellington. These funds along with the amazing people talent behind this wealth will help support our economic recovery.
• Review border settings for international workers. Employers still struggle to find highly skilled workers locally and need easier access to offshore talent.
• Reopen selections of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant and Parent categories. Thousands of people are stuck in limbo not knowing if they have a future in New Zealand which is damaging many families. Time for a transparent solution.
• Review the Partnership policy (this was included in the Labour party’s election manifesto) as the current policy is decades old and no longer fit for purpose.
• Review the Entrepreneur policy. We should have an attractive visa for experienced businesspeople who will employ kiwis and create new opportunities. The current policy is not working, and most applications are declined.