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New Zealand is making it easier for migrant workers to come and live in the country, in its latest attempt to bolster the workforce and economy.
Announcing two new residency pathways, the minister for economic growth, Nicola Willis, on Tuesday said skilled and experienced migrants could help plug gaps in the workforce.
“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,” she said in a statement.
The push for foreign workers and investment comes at a time when record numbers of New Zealanders are leaving the country and amid shrinking GDP.
The residency pathways will be introduced from mid-2026. One pathway is for migrants in skilled roles who meet relevant experience and salary thresholds. The second is for migrants in trades and technical roles who meet qualification, work experience and wage thresholds.
Immigration minister Erica Stanford said the skilled work experience pathway was designed to help employers retain experienced workers “who are already contributing to New Zealand’s economy and have demonstrated value in their roles”.
The trades and technicians pathway recognises the practical skills needed in industries where qualifications obtained outside university are used and valued, she said.
New Zealand citizens are leaving the country in record numbers. Between July 2024-2025, 73,400 New Zealanders left, compared with 25,800 returning home to live, according to Stats NZ.
In January, the government relaxed its visitor visa rules to attract so-called “digital nomads”– people who work remotely while travelling – to work in New Zealand. The visa extends to influencers, as long as they are being paid by an overseas company.
In February, the government loosened the requirements for its Active Investor Plus visa – commonly known as the golden visa – which offers residency to wealthy foreigners.
Business New Zealand welcomed the latest change in settings, saying the new pathways will enable employers to retain skilled workers, while Infrastructure NZ called for a more urgent start date.
But minor coalition partner New Zealand First broke with the government, choosing to invoke the ‘agree to disagree’ clause for what it said was an “unfocused immigration proposal”.
“New Zealand is being used as a stepping stone into Australia,” said Winston Peters, the party’s leader and minister of foreign affairs.
“We take them in, train them, up-skill them, look after their families, and then they emigrate.”
Of New Zealand citizens who migrated to Australia in 2024, 35% were born outside New Zealand, according to Stats NZ.
“We need a smart immigration system that focuses on the needs of employers in New Zealand, industry, and kiwi workers – not policies that will lead to more immigration with no plan for our next generation.”
