04/02/10 - Visitor numbers hit record high

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A record number of international visitors came to NZ in December

Record numbers of overseas visitors came to New Zealand in December, new figures from Statistics New Zealand show.

There were 341,300 visitors in December, the highest ever recorded in one month, and a 6 percent increase over the previous record of 322,200 in December 2008.

Visitor figures have increased in seven of the last nine months over the same months in previous years.

The December increase was driven by 14,000 more Australian visitors, along with 2800 more visitors from the United States and 1200 more from Singapore. However, visitors from China were down by 2300.

There were 2.458 million visitors in total last year, similar to 2008 levels but down from 2007.

Australian visitors were up 106,500, an 11 percent increase, but there were fewer visitors from the United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, the US and China.

New Zealand residents went on slightly fewer overseas trips last year, with 1.918 million short-term departures, down 2 percent on 2008.

The number of New Zealanders moving overseas also decreased last year, with permanent and long-term departures down by 18,500, including 15,700 fewer to Australia.

New Zealand's overall migration balance was a gain of 21,300, the highest since 2004, when there was a gain of 22,000.

(Source - The Dominion Post, NZPA)

26/01/10 - 'Frivolous' migrant visas shatter hopes, dreams

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Many migrants have sold up everything to come to New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand's "frivolous" issuing of work-to-residence visas is being questioned by migrant support groups as the country's unemployment rate hits new highs.

The agency issued 2261 work-to-residence visas and permits last year despite 44 per cent of those immigrants already here on such visas failing to find employment.

Immigration New Zealand says the scheme allows people who want to live in New Zealand to test their skills against the local labour market, and they know that if they cannot find work they will have to leave.

But Agnes Granada of the Migrant Action Trust said the system was frivolous and totally irresponsible because it was destroying people's lives.

"The work-to-residence permit is not a straight work permit, and migrants come here on the promise of permanency once they can get employment - but when there are no jobs for them, it becomes a trap."

New Zealand's unemployment rate is 6.5 per cent and figures released last week showed the number of people on the unemployment benefit rose 13 per cent last month to 66,328.

"Would-be migrants who have been issued visas are given three months to arrive in New Zealand to start their job hunt, but where can they find work at a time like this?" said Ms Granada.

Many migrants had sold up everything to come here and found that they had no money to return home and so extended their stay here as visitors, students or overstayers.

"Many come with their families, including young children, and find themselves in a situation where they cannot afford to send their kids to school," she said.

Immigration New Zealand approved 382 applications from migrants successful in obtaining a skilled job offer, but declined 299 others who failed to find skilled work.

Dennis Maga, national co-ordinator for Migrante Aotearoa, a migrant workers' union, said the work-to-residence scheme was fuelling xenophobia among New Zealand workers.

"Kiwis already have the perception that they have to compete with migrants for work and this scheme is only turning that perception into truth," Mr Maga said.

"With a deadline to find employment, it becomes like an amazing race for jobs to these migrants, but it is mission impossible for many and it will just end in shattered dreams."

Migrante Aotearoa was also questioning the recruitment of more migrant workers under the Silver Fern Visa when those already here were unable to find work, and would be asking the Department of Labour to investigate whether the work-to-residence scheme had benefited New Zealand in any way, Mr Maga said.

Immigration New Zealand said the work-to-residence permit was issued for nine months. "They must find skilled employment in order to progress through to residence. If they do not, they are not eligible for residence," said an agency spokesman.

"Everyone offered a work-to-residence permit receives a letter explaining these conditions."

(Source - Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald)

20/01/10 - They came, they saw, they left ...

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In the final of the series, immigration reporter Lincoln Tan looks at how well the country retains its foreign residents.

One out of five people granted New Zealand permanent residency between 2002 and 2008 is absent from the country.

According to the Department of Labour, 83,983 of the 452,500 granted residency over the period are living permanently outside New Zealand.

Despite not residing in New Zealand, these absent permanent residents - whom migrant advisers say were granted residency mainly through the business stream - will still be eligible for health and education subsidies should they decide to return.

Should they maintain their residency status, their children could also be entitled to New Zealand residency, which will make them also eligible for these subsidies.

Migrant advisers have raised questions whether this allows migrants to use New Zealand as a "second option" for retirement, as a springboard to Australia or use its services without contributing to the economy.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said permanent residents must generally remain here for two years to become eligible for an indefinite returning resident's visa - which must be renewed each time they replaced their passport.

"The returning resident visa status of secondary applicants, such as children, is dependent upon whether the principal applicant maintains the status."

Dr Coleman says business migrants, by nature, would be able to move between countries with ease.
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"I would note that (business) migrants are mobile, many have skills in high demand, so a proportion of them will move on to other countries or return to their source country."

Dr Coleman said the OECD has recognised New Zealand did as well as Canada and the US, and better than European countries, at retaining immigrants.

"Research shows that in general, business migrants are focused on establishing successful enterprises in New Zealand, and that they tend to be more profitable than similar-sized New Zealand firms."

But business analyst Keng Lim says the fact a fifth of immigrants chose overseas showed they are not committed to New Zealand, and wanted permanent residency only as a "stand by option" or for "personal gain" - such as sending their children to New Zealand schools as domestic students.

The highest levels of resident absenteeism are from Taiwan (50 per cent), Hong Kong (40 per cent) and Singapore (37 per cent). At the other end of the scale were Tonga and Afghanistan (both 5 per cent).

"It shows that migrants from richer countries want residency so they can send their children here for free education, and hold on to their residency as a retirement option, rather than wanting to actively contribute to the economy," said Mr Lim.

"With the high taxation here, many know they are better off elsewhere, but being able to get an indefinite residency makes New Zealand more attractive than Australia."

He said some would also use their New Zealand residency as a way to get into Australia.

Association for Migration and Investment chairwoman Coral Wong says she has, in a personal capacity as an immigration adviser, acted for "many clients" before 2005 wanting permanent residency mainly to get their children into New Zealand schools.

Then, people who could prove they have $1 million to invest could be granted residency.

But policy changes were made in November 2005, doubling the investment amount to $2 million and requiring investors to put their money in a Government infrastructural fund for five years.

Investor numbers dropped drastically when the Labour Government raised the minimum amount in 2007 to between $2.5 million and $20 million, depending on the age of the potential migrant.

Last July, National introduced the new Migrant Investor Policy, aimed at attracting financial capital by granting residence to those who wished to make significant financial contribution to New Zealand's economy.

It also launched the Entrepreneur Plus policy in November, fast tracking residency for migrants who create at least three fulltime jobs and invest $500,000 in their business.

Last year, 46,097 people were granted permanent residence with 62 per cent coming through the Skilled and Business Stream.

But Labour MP Raymond Huo, who is planning to submit a Private Members' Bill to make changes to alter the business policies, says National's new business policy is "just a bad joke".

Mr Huo says to keep skilled and business migrants in the country, the Government must invest in better infrastructure to support them and the businesses that they start here.


Missing Migrants
Long-term absence for migrants approved for residence between 2001 to 2008 (top 10):

1. Taiwan: 2679 / 50 per cent
2. Hong Kong: 1132 / 40 per cent
3. Singapore: 1107 / 37 per cent
4. Indonesia: 1160 / 31 per cent
5. Canada: 1204 / 30 per cent
6. Malaysia: 2593 / 29 per cent
7. United States: 3511 / 29 per cent
8. Pakistan: 527 / 26 per cent
9. China: 14,868 / 25 per cent
10. Somalia: 519 / 25 per cent
21. United Kingdom: 14,650 / 16 per cent
22. South Africa: 6022 / 16 per cent

Total: 83,983 / 19 per cent

(Source - Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald)

20/01/10 - Migrant's decision strictly business

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A business migrant says his decision to apply for New Zealand permanent residency was purely a "business decision".

The 53-year-old businessman from China, who now lives and runs a trading business in Wuhan, said he was deciding between applying for either New Zealand or Australia residency in 2002, but chose New Zealand because it offered indefinite residency and a "better return of investment".

"I was put off by Australia's requirement for migrants to live there, and people who live for too long outside the country will lose the permanent residency status," said the investor migrant, who spoke on the condition he was not named.

He gained residency in 2002 after submitting a business plan, and proving he had $1 million to invest here - which he used to buy a commercial property and sold it for a profit in 2008.

Since gaining New Zealand residency in 2003, the businessman has put his then teenage daughter, who gained residency from his application, through high school as a domestic student at Takapuna Grammar on Auckland's North Shore.

International high school students pay about $12,000 in annual fees while domestic students are expected to only contribute a few hundred dollars in school donations.

She is now in university.

"I want my daughter to return to China to take over my business when she graduates, but New Zealand has an excellent health and education system," he said.
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"As a permanent resident, my daughter can come back to New Zealand to give birth and put her children through school here if she wants to."

Coral Wong, New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment chairwoman, says it is not uncommon for migrants to want residency for the purposes of education and their children, especially before 2005.

But these were a minority, she said, and it was unfair to paint all migrants with the same brush.

(Source - Lincoln Tan , NZ Herald)

18/01/10 - 'Centre of gravity rule' enables Chinese to help their parents

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Immigrant Ally Wang, 35, from Guangzhou, is anxiously waiting after sponsoring her 66-year-old father Zhi Wang and 60-year-old mother Ying Xu for residency.

The North Shore mother of an 11-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl says New Zealand's relaxed lifestyle and educational opportunities for her children made her move here.

"I really love my life in New Zealand, but it does not feel complete without my mum and dad," she said.

She is hoping to take advantage of New Zealand's immigration policy which makes it easier for those from China to sponsor parents and family members to come to New Zealand.

Parents can be sponsored to become permanent residents if they have half or more of their children living in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand defines a family's "centre of gravity" as "the number of their adult children lawfully and permanently in New Zealand being equal or greater than those in any single country".


Because of China's one-child policy, this means nearly every new resident from China will be able to sponsor his or her parents to live in New Zealand permanently.

Immigration expert Professor Paul Spoonley describes the New Zealand policy as being "China friendly, by default".

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says there are no plans to change it.

"The potential for family reunification is a factor in attracting skilled migrants to New Zealand and keeping them here," he said.

Chinese shop assistant Brenda Li, 27, said since she got her permanent residency in 2003, she had sponsored her parents and also obtained residency for her 25-year-old boyfriend, from Wuhan, one of the 1352 granted residency through the partnership policy last year.

Her partner is in the process of sponsoring his parents to become residents.

"We are very grateful to the New Zealand Government for giving us the chance to start a new life here together with our whole family," she said.

"Both my partner and I are our parents' only child, and it is our responsibility to look after them."

Auckland University Professor of Asian Studies Manying Ip said last year that many born under China's one-child policy were taking advantage of the parent policy by sponsoring their parents, and even grandparents, here.

She warned this would bring new challenges in health, housing and socio-economic issues.

NEW RESIDENTS

Top eight source countries for permanent residence aged 20 and over:

1.China (6361)
2.United Kingdom (6302)
3.South Africa (3409)
4.India (2646)
5.Fiji (2409)
6.Philippines (2122)
7.Samoa (1118)
8.United States (859)

Total number granted permanent residence in 2008/09: 46,097

(Source - Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald)

14/01/10 - Immigration scam referred to police

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14/01/10 - Jobs for Migrants

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An initiative to increase job opportunities for qualified immigrants has won $40,000 from the Auckland City Council and a promise of similar funding for the next two years.

Opportunities for Migrant Employment in Greater Auckland, with support from local businesses, runs a mentoring and internship programme that places skilled immigrants into jobs.

Programme director Justin Treagus says the diversity immigrants bring to New Zealand lifts innovation and productivity.

"Nearly 50 percent of all skilled immigrants are either confined to jobs for which they are over-qualified for or are inactive or unemployed.

"Getting them into jobs that fit is an instant lift to productivity."

(Source - Manukau Courier)

12/01/10 - Project stalled by student's visa delay

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An Iranian with a scholarship to study nano-engineering could lose his place at Canterbury University because of Immigration Service delays.

The professor who granted him the PhD scholarship, which covers tuition fees and a small stipend, says the delay is threatening a research deal with AgResearch and allowing competitors to get the edge in the specialised field of cloning.

Reza Sabsevari and wife Mahnam Saeednia applied in February last year to come to New Zealand on student and visitor visas. They were told the process normally took one to four months, but nearly a year later they are still waiting.

Immigration New Zealand have told him they are waiting on "verification checks" before they can approve his visa, but will not elaborate on what this means.

Mr Sabsevari's offer to study "micro-robotic assisted cloning" expired in December but the university agreed to extend it until February 1 this year.

Wenhui Wang, a lecturer at Canterbury who selected Mr Sabsevari for the research, is frustrated by the delay. He was relying on having Mr Sabsevari's assistance in his own research into nano-engineering.

AgResearch agreed to collaborate on a research project more than a year ago, but has been stalled by the delay. "Because Reza is not here we cannot begin the project, we are wasting time and it's putting us in a worse position. Our competitors are getting ahead and we cannot say we are leaders in the field."

Dr Wang said he selected Mr Sabsevari especially for the project because of his academic background, but he could not wait for ever.

"I can wait two, maybe three months ... but I think I am having to find a plan B."

Since he chose Mr Sabsevari to be his first PhD student, he has taken on several more from other countries. Students from Germany and Malaysia faced no delays. A third student from India took six months to get through the process.

Mr Sabsevari's cousin, Aida Tavasolli, has lived in Wellington for 11 years.

She and husband Don Stokes have been doing what they can to help with the visa process, but say it has been hard to get information from Immigration. If Mr Sabsevari does not get his visa approved before his study offer expires, he may not be able to get one at all.

"You can't get a student visa without an offer of place. The university's already extended it once, we don't know if they'll be able to do it again," Mr Stokes said.
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Mr Sabsevari's life in Iran is on hold as well. He lectures at one of Iran's biggest universities, but has been unable to make any teaching commitments since he decided to come to New Zealand.

"He had been hoping to take on a tutoring job but because he's expecting to leave at any time, he can't do anything else," Mr Stokes said.

He had turned down a PhD placement in Iran in favour of Dr Wang's.

An Immigration spokeswoman said 90 per cent of student applications were decided within 60 days of application and 93 per cent of student applications were approved overall.

(Source Dominion Post - Stacey Wood)

08/01/10 - Kiwis wanting to work in UK will need ID cards

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Friday Jan 8, 2010

New Zealanders planning to work in Britain for six months or more will soon need an identification card containing their photograph, fingerprints and some personal details.

The compulsory Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals will have to be presented, with a passport, at the border from April next year to gain entry.

UK authorities say the cards, to be issued when any foreigner applies for a visa, contain the same details already recorded from passengers.

They expect the cards to make travelling, accessing medical services and setting up bank accounts quicker and easier.

Since Wednesday this week, sponsored skilled workers applying to extend their stay in the UK have needed to obtain a card.

By the end of this year, this will be widened to highly skilled and temporary workers who are extending their stay. And by April next year, anyone working in Britain for six months or more will need a card.

British High Commission spokesman David Rose said yesterday that the system was introduced as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration and employment.

"These things are really designed to help legitimate migrants and legitimate employers. The only people who really have any need to worry are the illegal migrants or illegitimate employers."

Any employer or university found to be employing or educating a person without a card risked harsh penalties, including large fines and prison sentences, Mr Rose said.
"It will help those people make sure that anyone who comes to them has the legal right to work or study in the UK."

Mr Rose said two other types of cards were also being introduced. British citizens would be required to get a National Identity Card.

Citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland working in Britain would also need their own identification cards.

Civil libertarians in the UK fear the cards will be an invasion of people's privacy.
But Mr Rose said there was nothing sinister about them. The microchip containing the fingerprint data was extremely secure.

He likened the microchips to New Zealand ePassports, which contain a facial biometric identifier of the holder.

"They can't be forged, they can't be tampered with," Mr Rose said.

The UK Border Agency first introduced biometric tests in November 2008.

"The purpose of this check is to verify that the individual entering the UK is the same person who applied for their visa, and using fingerprints enables us to do this with greater certainty," the agency's website says.

"By 2015, we expect that 90 per cent of nationals from outside the [European Economic Area] and Switzerland will have a card.

A Unisys Security Index survey released in October last year revealed that 81 per cent of New Zealanders were happy to use fingerprint scans to prove their identity.
Sixty-eight per cent were also willing to have their eyes scanned.

(Source NZ Herald Beck Vass)

08/01/10 - NZ rated in top 5 places to live

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Friday Jan 8, 2010

New Zealand is the fifth-best country to live in, according to an index run by magazine International Living.

That's up four places from ninth last year, when the magazine described the country as an Antipodean outpost, "stunning" but with "drawbacks" such as being 12 hours from the United States and the difficulty with immigrating here.

The American index is pitched at those who are retiring or want to migrate. It ranks 194 countries which offer the best quality of life, considering cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and risk, and climate.

This year, the survey raved about "pristine landscapes", the Auckland waterfront and Southern Alps - calling Godzone the type of place younger migrants could relocate to and raise a family. Positive, too, it said, are rebounding property prices.

The magazine then cut and pasted from Immigration New Zealand's website other reasons why the country deserves to be in the top 10.

"In many ways it's not what we have that's important to our quality of life - it's what we don't have. We don't have high crime rates, our police don't carry guns and instances of corruption are virtually unheard of. We don't have abject poverty or hunger and we don't have the pollution, congestion, health issues and cramped city living that we see elsewhere."

Australia improved from fifth overall in 2009 to second, on the back of the way its economy weathered the global financial crisis.

Despite "it's tiresome bureaucracy and high taxes", France, for the fifth year running, was ranked first. Outweighing those factors were the world's best health-care system.
Staff writers also waxed lyrical about the difficulties of measuring a country's "heart and soul".

"But it's impossible to enumerate the joy of lingering for hours over dinner and a bottle of red wine in a Parisian brasserie. Or strolling beside the Seine on a spring morning, poking through the book vendors' wares. Or buying buttery croissants in bohemian Montmartre...

TOP TEN

1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. United States
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10. Italy

DON'T GET A LOOK IN:

The sinking:

• 123. Tuvalu
• 107. Kiribati

At war, insurgencies:

• 190. Afghanistan
• 170. Iraq
• 178. Pakistan

Dead last:

• Somalia

(Source  NZ Herald Yvonne Tahana)