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WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The
government here has announced a major overhaul of its immigration
policy as it targets skilled migrants from Asian countries with a
focus on information technology.
Cabinet papers
released to Radio New Zealand show the proposed shake-up is designed
to make New Zealand compete with other OECD (Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development) countries for skilled
migrants.
To address key
labor shortages in areas such as IT, the Cabinet papers say New
Zealand’s current immigration policies cannot compete against
intense international competition for skilled workers.
“We probably
need to have an enhanced presence there because our IT sector is
crying out for skilled professionals,” Immigration Minister David
Cunliffe said.
Other changes
advocated included streamlined applications and having residency
applications done in New Zealand.
“So
decisions are made by New Zealanders rather than perhaps by locally
employed staff in foreign posts in foreign languages where we just
have less control,” the minister said.
Radio New
Zealand said the policy would target skilled migrants “in
countries like India and China.”
Cunliffe said
the policy had not changed to favor one country over another.
“Our
immigration policy has always been . . . that we target skills first
and we are color blind.”
 --AFP
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