Border reopening created staffing crisis at Immigration NZ

Border reopening created staffing crisis at Immigration NZ
(Image: Jacques Steenkamp/Getty)
Jem Traylen
Visa extensions billed as helping employers were in fact needed to solve a staffing crisis at Immigration New Zealand, documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA) show.Three weeks after the Feb 3 announcement of the government’s border reopening plan, officials advised then immigration minister Kris Faafoi that a shortfall of immigration officers of about 60 full-time equivalents (FTEs) would treble to 180 as a result.At the time, INZ had 677 staff processing visas, down from a peak of more than 900 pre-covid. Officia...

More Policy

Apprenticeships to be moved to new industry skills boards
Policy

Apprenticeships to be moved to new industry skills boards

Vocational Education Minister says new training model will help build skills.

Maria Slade 24 Apr 2025
Ministry of Justice seeks market feedback on courthouse PPPs
Policy

Ministry of Justice seeks market feedback on courthouse PPPs

Want to build and maintain three courthouses for 25 years? Now's your chance.

Oliver Lewis 24 Apr 2025
Foreign investors show ‘increased interest’ in NZ
Policy

Foreign investors show ‘increased interest’ in NZ

Pension funds are reportedly cooling on the US. Could NZ stand to benefit?

Oliver Lewis 22 Apr 2025
Rise in liquidations compounded by IRD crackdown
Economy

Rise in liquidations compounded by IRD crackdown

The IRD filed two-thirds of creditor applications in the March quarter.

Gregor Thompson 22 Apr 2025