ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK VISAS AND TEMPORARY MIGRANTS - Guidance for New Zealand hospitality employers
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ESSENTIAL SKILLS WORK VISAS AND TEMPORARY MIGRANTS Guidance for New Zealand hospitality employers FEBRUARY 2021
New Zealand’s immigration system is designed to ensure New Zealanders are first
in line for jobs, while making sure that employers have access to migrant workers
where no New Zealanders are available. In recent times, the criteria used to assess
Essential Skills work visa applications have changed, and more changes are coming
to New Zealand’s immigration settings. You need to understand how these
changes will affect you when you think about recruiting temporary migrant staff.
What you need to know
1. Migrants and employers must meet the 5. Maximum stay: The maximum time an
conditions set out in existing visas: These Essential Skills Work Visa holder who is
include the region, the role, and the minimum earning less than the median income can stay
30-hour per week requirement for full-time in New Zealand on multiple visas is 3 years
work. (36 months).
2. Replacement of skills levels with a median 6. Suspension of offshore applications: With
wage threshold: The combination of ANZSCO limited exceptions for critical workers1, the
and salary to assess skill level has been ability to submit offshore applications for
replaced with a simple income-based temporary work visas has been suspended
threshold tied to the national median wage until May 2021.
calculated by Statistics New Zealand.
7. Return of some normally resident
3. Occupation oversupply and undersupply temporary work visa holders from overseas:
lists: The Ministry of Social Development will Temporary work visa holders who are
no longer issue a Skills Match Report for currently outside of New Zealand but who
occupations on its oversupply list. These have maintained a job or business in New
include a number of lower-level hospitality Zealand and have lived here for some time
sector jobs. Other than in exceptional cases, prior to departing may be eligible to return to
Immigration New Zealand is unlikely to issue New Zealand under the new border exception
Essential Skills work visas for occupations on category.2
the oversupply list.
4. Changes to the duration of Essential Skills This booklet was accurate at date of
work visas: Workers who earn at or above the publication. However, the immigration
median wage can be granted a visa for up to environment is changing. To check
3 years. Workers who earn below the median information and stay up-to-date, visit:
wage can be granted a visa of up to 6 www.immigration.govt.nz
months.
1. www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/covid-19-information-for-employers
2. www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-exceptions/critical-purpose-
reasons-you-can-travel-to-new-zealand
Essential Skills work visas
and temporary migrants: CONTENTS
guidance for New Zealand 4. Supporting an Essential
hospitality sector employers Skills work visa
6. Submitting a complete
This booklet is intended to help you and your employees
understand, plan for, and comply with New Zealand’s
and correct application
changing immigration environment..
7. Applying for a Variation
The COVID-19 pandemic has likely to be of most interest to of Conditions –
damaged the economies of employers is the employer Essential Skills work
nations worldwide. In New assisted Essential Skills work
visa
Zealand, the hospitality sector visa.
has been particularly affected. In July 2020, many Essential 8. Using VisaView to check
For the immediately Skills work visa holders were if someone can work for
foreseeable future, granted a six-month
you
international tourism will be extension3. This was a short-
severely limited, and with many term measure recognising the
9. A work entitlement
hospitality businesses difficulty of international
operating on tight margins, travel. Nonetheless, even checklist
unemployment is predicted to allowing for the extension,
large numbers of current
10. Operating in the new
rise.
Essential Skills work visas will environment
Many staff within New
expire in the first six months of
Zealand’s hospitality industry
2021.
hold temporary work visas. Of
these, the visa type currently continued overleaf
Immigration NZ
Contact Centre
3. Anyone who was in New Zealand on 10 July and held an Employer-
The Contact Centre takes
assisted temporary work visa due to expire before 31 December 2020 may
have had that visa extended for 6 months. This includes: calls from 6:00am Monday
to midnight on Saturday.
›› some visas due to expire after 9 July
›› visas previously extended to 25 September under the Epidemic Toll-free*: 0508 558 855
Management Notice. Auckland: 09 914 4100
The main employer-assisted temporary work visas are: Wellington: 04 910 9915
›› Essential Skills *NZ landlines only
›› Work to Residence.
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 1
As a visa nears expiration, the The maximum time an Essential for pays below the median
visa holder has two choices: Skills Work Visa holder who is wage ($25.50 per hour).
apply for a new visa or arrange earning less than the median
In addition, the Ministry of
to leave New Zealand. income can stay in New Zealand
Social Development now
on multiple visas is three years
If one of your employees is in publishes an ‘oversupply’ list of
(36 months).
this situation, they may occupations for which they will
approach you to support a new When assessing Essential Skills not issue a Skills Match Report.
visa application. applications, Immigration New
The oversupply list
Zealand considers the current
As an employer, you need to acknowledges the importance
economic environment and
understand how the visa of making jobs available to
labour market.
system works and to out-of-work New Zealanders
understand the new criteria Employers may be asked to who have the appropriate
that apply when applications provide further evidence to experience. The oversupply list
are assessed. show that, at the time the is not region specific.
application is assessed, they
In recent times, New Zealand In the hospitality sector, the
have been unable to find
has introduced new oversupply of New Zealand job
suitably qualified, experienced
requirements for Essential seekers on Job Seeker Support
or trainable New Zealanders to
Skills work visas. in all regions includes café
fill the role.
workers, cooks, commercial
Some of these changes were
An employer may also be asked housekeepers, domestic
made before the arrival of the
for financial information about housekeepers, fast food cooks,
COVID-19 pandemic and some
their business to confirm that kitchenhands, and waiters.
were made afterwards.
the offer of employment made
Collectively, these changes to
These new changes may mean to an a migrant worker is
New Zealand’s immigration
that the criteria that applied to sustainable.
settings are likely to mean that
Essential Skills work visa
A number of measures to fewer Essential Skills work
applications supported by an
protect the local labour market visas will be granted in the
employer in the past have also
have been introduced. One of foreseeable future.
changed.
these is a stronger labour
During 2021, Immigration New
One of the key changes, market test for lower paid jobs.
Zealand will be introducing a
introduced in July 2020, is a
In the past, employers were new employer-led visa
wage threshold set at the New
required to provide a Skills application process.
Zealand median income. This is
Match Report if a job was at
currently $25.50 per hour. This is a major policy change
skill level 4 or 5 according to the
Those earning this amount or with implications for all
Australian and New Zealand
above are eligible for Essential employers intending to support
Standard Classification of
Skills work visas of up to 3 work visa applications.
Occupations (ANZSCO).
years in duration, while those
earning less than this amount Employers are now required to
can only be granted a 6-month provide a Skills Match Report if
duration work visa. the role that is being recruited
2 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersPlanned changes to the visa application process
To make hiring a migrant worker more Under the new application process, a single
straightforward for employers, over the employer-assisted temporary work visa will
course of 2021 the Government is introducing replace the six temporary work visa
a new employer-led visa application categories:
framework. This includes: ›› Essential Skills Work Visa
›› an employer check, where all employers ›› Essential Skills Work Visa — approved in
will be accredited to enable them to hire a principle
migrant;
›› Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa
›› a job check, where the job is checked to
›› Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa
ensure that no New Zealander is able to
fill the job being recruited for, subject ›› Silver Fern Job Search Visa (closed 7
to skill, industry sector and regional October 2019)
differentiation; and ›› Silver Fern Practical Experience Visa
›› a worker check, where checks will be made Employers will have two types of
to ensure the migrant worker is of good accreditation, depending on how many
character and health. migrant workers they employ over a
12-month period. Labour hire companies and
franchisees will have specific accreditation
requirements.
To find out more, visit : www.immigration.govt.nz/work-visa-changes
More detailed information will be available on the Immigration New Zealand website in March.
Normally Resident Temporary Work Visa holders
who are overseas
Since early October 2020, some temporary ›› have lived in New Zealand for at least two
work visa holders who were overseas when the years, or, if living in New Zealand for at least
borders closed have been able to return. To be one year, have one of the following:
considered for the new border exception and ›› their dependent children with them in New
to demonstrate a strong and ongoing Zealand (for at least six months)
connection to New Zealand with realistic
›› parents or adult siblings who are ordinarily
prospects of remaining here long-term, among
resident in New Zealand
other requirements, visa holders must:
›› submitted an application for residence by
›› still hold their job in New Zealand or an
31 July 2020
essential skills visa that is not subject to the
stand-down period and are at or above the ›› have held a visa at the time of departing
median income that does not expire before the end of
2020, or, if expiring before that date, have
›› have departed New Zealand on or after 1
applied for a further visa by 10 August
December 2019
2020.
For full criteria, visit: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19/border-closures-and-
exceptions/critical-purpose-reasons-you-can-travel-to-new-zealand
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 3Supporting an Essential Skills work visa
Before a temporary migrant can be considered for an Essential Skills work visa, you must establish
that there are no suitable New Zealanders available for the job. This includes advertising the vacancy
and assessing applicants. In all instances you must establish that you have made a genuine attempt
to recruit a New Zealander. If you unable to recruit a New Zealander and decide to support an Essential
Skills work visa application, one of the following scenarios will apply.
S1 If the visa applicant will be paid at or above the median income, they may be eligible to be
considered for an Essential Skills work visa.
Visa duration: up to 3 years
S2 The job pays below the median income and the occupation is on the undersupply list
If the visa applicant will be paid below the median income and their occupation is on the
undersupply list, they may be eligible to be considered for an Essential Skills work visa.
Visa duration: up to 6 months, with a multi-visa maximum of a 3-year stay in New
Zealand.
S3 The job pays below the median income and the occupation is not on the undersupply or
oversupply list
If the visa applicant will be paid below the median income and the occupation is not listed on the
undersupply or oversupply list, they may be eligible to be considered for an Essential Skills work
visa, however the employer must engage with MSD to obtain a Skills Match Report .
Visa duration: up to 6 months, with a multi-visa maximum of a 3-year stay in New
Zealand.
S4 The job pays below the median income and the occupation is on the oversupply list
If the visa applicant will be paid below the median income and is on the oversupply list, either
nationally or in the region where the job is located, the Essential Skills work visa application is
unlikely to be successful.
Oversupply and undersupply lists
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has ›› retail and hospitality
created lists of occupations and regions where ›› construction
there is a clear over or undersupply of New
›› administration and call centre workers
Zealanders on Job Seeker Support.
›› manufacturing and warehousing
If an employer is trying to fill an occupation
›› transport.
that is on the undersupply list, they will not
need to get a Skills Match Report, even if the In the hospitality sector, the oversupply of
job is paid below the New Zealand median New Zealand job seekers in all regions includes
wage. café workers, cooks, commercial
housekeepers, domestic housekeepers, fast
There is an oversupply of New Zealand job
food cooks, kitchenhands, and waiters.
seekers on a Job Seeker Support benefit in all
regions for some occupations in the following If your role is not oversupplied or
sectors: undersupplied in your region, you will need a
Skills Match Report to hire a migrant.
To check if a role is on the oversupply list or the undersupply list in your region, visit:
workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2020/skills-match-report-changes.
html
4 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersThe Essential Skills work visa application process
This flow chart is a high-level simplification of the work visa application process. Before a work visa can be
approved, immigration officers must be satisfied that all requirements for the granting of the visa are met.
This includes a labour market test, establishing that no New Zealand citizens or residents are available to do
the work offered. An immigration officer may consider a number of factors when determining whether the
labour market test is met. Four scenarios (marked S ,see page opposite) apply.
at or above
pay rate S1 median wage*
advertise vacancy nationally
*The median wage as at October 2020
was $25.50 per hour.
assess no suitable
candidates New Zealander
below suitable submit visa
median wage* New Zealander application
Essential Skills work
employ
visa | up to 3-year
New Zealander
max. if approved
check MSD
lists
occupation on occupation on
S4 oversupply list undersupply list S2 advertise
S3 vacancy
contact local occupation not on locally or nationally
Work & Income undersupply or oversupply list
office
list vacancy assess
with MSD applicants
suitable no suitable
New Zealander New Zealander
advertise request
no suitable
vacancy MSD Skills Match
New Zealander
locally or nationally Report (SMR)
assess submit visa
suitable job applicants application
New Zealander & SMR
no suitable
New Zealander
employ Essential Skills
New Zealander or submit visa work visa |
residence-class application 6-month max.
visa holder if approved
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 5Submitting a complete and correct application
If you decide to support an Essential Skills work visa application, it is important that you
provide all the information we need. Immigration New Zealand often receives incomplete
Essential Skills work visa applications. This slows down processing. You can help us to help
you by getting things right.
1. A Skills Match Report ›› work experience
If the role pays less than the median income ›› the reasons they were found unsuitable.
level and is not on the under or oversupply 4. Complete and correct employment
lists, you must request a Skills Match Report agreements
from the Ministry of Social Development.
Your prospective worker must provide a
For more information: completed and signed employment
www.workandincome.govt.nz/employers/ agreement. Agreements often miss:
help-with-recruitment/hiring-someone-
›› the correct legal name of the business
from-overseas.html
›› the name and address of the worker
2. Job advertisements
›› the hours of work
Evidence of the advertising you have placed ›› the rate of pay (hourly or annual salary)
establishes that you have genuinely ›› whether the role is fixed term or
attempted to recruit a New Zealander. If the permanent. (If the role is fixed term, you
pay rate is below the median wage, you must must provide a genuine business reason
advertise locally or more widely for at least why this is so.)
one week. If the pay rate is at or above the
median wage, you must advertise nationally For more information: www.employment.
for at least two weeks. govt.nz/starting-employment/
employment-agreements/things-an-
The use of large recruitment websites such agreement-must-contain/
as Seek and TradeMe is acceptable.
Advertising on your own website or Facebook 5. Confirmation that the role guarantees a
page is generally not enough. minimum of 30 hours of work per week
If possible, provide the Seek or TradeMe To qualify for an Essential Skills work visa,
dashboard showing the number of your migrant worker must be working at
candidates who responded. least 30 hours a week. This must be specified
in the employment agreement. If the hours
A visa application should be submitted within
of work fluctuate – due to weather, for
3 months of the date the role was advertised.
example – the employee must still be paid for
3. Information about candidates at least 30 hours a week.
Information about the people who have 6. Complete job descriptions
applied for the role will help establish
Information often missed from job
whether or not there are suitable New
descriptions that must be included, includes:
Zealanders available to do the job. You
should show how many people applied for ›› job title
the job, along with each person’s: ›› location of employment
›› immigration status ›› tasks and responsibilities
›› qualifications ›› required skills, qualifications and
experience.
6 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersA work entitlement checklist
Is the person you are checking a
New Zealand citizen?
Yes No
Checking a New Zealand citizen’s work Checking a non-New Zealand citizen’s
entitlement work entitlement
Sight a New Zealand passport, or Check work entitlement at
Confirm New Zealand passport www.immigration.govt.nz/visaview,
information at or
www.immigration.govt.nz/visaview Sight a passport with a valid New
and sight the passport or other photo Zealand visa with conditions that allow
identification, or the person to work for you, or
Sight a New Zealand birth certificate and Sight a valid electronic visa (printout)
photo identification, or and verify through Visa View or
Sight a New Zealand citizenship Sight an Australian passport, or
certificate and photo identification
Sight a passport with an Australian
Retain copies permanent residence visa or a current
*A new Zealand driver licence is not sufficient evidence on returning residence visa.
its own to confirm citizenship.
Retain copies
A New Zealand birth certificate can be ordered online at
www.bdmonline.dia.govt.nz by anyone who has a RealMe A tax code declaration IR330 form is not a
ID. reasonable excuse for employing someone
who is not entitled to work for you.
Did VisaView confirm that this person is
This checklist is designed to help
entitled to work for you?
you meet your obligations under
the Act. For a more comprehensive No. You may not be able to employ this
work entitlement guide, visit: person. New Zealand citizens will need
www.immigration.govt.nz./visaview to provide evidence of their citizenship.
Non-New Zealand citizens should
contact the Immigration Contact Centre
on 0508 558 855 to apply for a visa to
work in New Zealand.
Yes. You can employ this person until
the date specified and in accordance
with any conditions stated.
Call the Immigration Contact Centre
employer-designated contact number:
0508 967 569
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 7Applying for a Variation of Conditions – Essential Skills work visa
A variation of conditions, if granted, will only be for the balance of the current visa.
Does the worker To find out more
currently hold an
Essential Skills work N about whether
the the conditions
visa? of the visa can be
changed, visit the
Y Immigration New
Zealand website.
(See below.)
Is the new job
N paid at or above the Y
median wage?
Is the worker’s
current Essential Do you want to
The worker can
Skills work visa for change the worker’s
a job that is either Y occupation or region N apply to change
employer
lower skilled of employment?
OR pays below the
median wage*? Y
N
Is the new
occupation on one of
N the Skills Shortage
lists? (See below)
Y
Does the worker
New Work Visa meet the Skills
required N Shortage list
requirements?
Y
*Essential Skills visa approval The worker can
letters will state the skill level for apply to change
applications submitted before 27 any combination of
July 2020, or the remuneration employer, occupation
level for applications submitted on and region of
or after 27 July 2020. employment
Skills Shortage checker: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
To find out more about whether you can change the conditions of a work visa, visit:
www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/general-
information/variation-of-conditions-temporary-visas/varying-a-work-visa
8 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersUsing VisaView to check if someone can work for you
You may have found the perfect candidate for To access VisaView, you need a RealMe account.
your vacancy, but every migrant needs a visa If you have created a RealMe account for another
that allows them to work in New Zealand. With purpose, you can use that for VisaView.
VisaView, you can satisfy yourself that your
The conditions of the migrant’s visa will also be
prospective employee is able to live in New
noted on the visa label in their passport, or in a
Zealand and work for you.
letter from Immigration New Zealand. You should
Before a migrant can begin working for you, you ask to see those documents, as well as photo
must check that the conditions of their visa allow identification, and keep a copy of them for your
them to work. It’s important to note though that records.
potential or new migrants do not need a visa to
To learn more about VisaView, visit:
apply for jobs, as in many cases a job offer is
www.immigration.govt.nz./visaview
required to support their visa application.
VisaView also allows registered employers to
You can check whether a migrant can work for
confirm New Zealand passport information
you using VisaView. VisaView allows registered
provided by a New Zealand citizen candidate. To
employers to verify that prospective and current
do this, you will need to complete and return the
employees hold a valid visa, the conditions of the
Disclosure Agreement to the Department of
visa, and the date of expiry. Enquiries are saved
Internal Affairs: www.immigration.govt.nz/
in the employer’s VisaView account and these
documents/online-systems/dia_
records can be used as evidence of compliance
registeredemployeragreement.pdf
with the Immigration Act 2009.
It is an offence under the Immigration Act
2009 to allow, or continue to allow, someone
to work for you who is not entitled to do so.
EMPLOYERS
VISAVIEW GUIDE FOR
INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT
MINISTRY OF BUSINESS,
VisaView guide for employers PDF 596KB : 1
www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/online-
loyers
VisaView Guide for Emp
systems/visaviewguideforemployers.pdf
VisaView guide for employers PDF 596KB :
www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/online-
systems/visaviewguideforemployers.pdf
immigration.govt.nz
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 9Operating in the new environment
The Government recognises that COVID-19 presents a while making sure that access to migrant workers is
unique set of challenges for New Zealand jobseekers, available where there is a genuine skill need that cannot
employers and temporary work visa holders. Regional be met.
impacts vary, but there are more people looking for It is possible that some temporary migrants who had
work as a consequence of the impact of COVID-19 on hoped to make New Zealand their long-term home will
businesses. Minimising unemployment and promoting need to make a plan to depart New Zealand if they can
re-employment is central to the Government’s no longer remain here lawfully. Understandably, this
response to COVID-19. may be distressing for both migrants and their
The Government’s overall aim is to reduce reliance on employers.
low-skilled migrant labour and incentivise more It is the responsibility of the temporary migrant to
integrated planning across the employment, ensure they remain lawful while they are in New
immigration and education systems. Zealand. Information about visa types is available on
New Zealand’s immigration system is designed to the Immigration New Zealand website or an
ensure that New Zealanders are first in line for jobs, immigration professional can help.
Compliance with Employers who do not comply with
the standards or who have
For information about employee
rights, visit:
employment breached employment law can be
stopped from recruiting migrant
www.employment.govt.nz/
starting-employment/rights-and-
standards workers. Employers that have responsibilities/minimum-rights-
received a penalty (or similar) for a of-employees/
All employers are required to breach will be viewed as non-
For information about what
comply with employment compliant with New Zealand
happens if an employer breaches
standards. employment law and will face a set
employment standards, visit:
stand-down period that prevents
Among other requirements, you www.employment.govt.nz/
them from supporting a visa
must pay at least the minimum resolving-problems/steps-to-
application. The period commences
wage for every hour worked and resolve/labour-inspectorate/
when an infringement notice or
you must not charge fees or deduct employers-who-have-breached-
penalty is issued.
money from wages unless this is minimum-employment-
legally required or has been agreed standards/#standdown
to in writing first.
10 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersRedundancy Migrant Migrant welfare
If you can no longer offer exploitation
employment that meets the terms Emergency assistance
of your employee’s visa, you may In the current economic
need to offer redundancy. environment, temporary migrants Temporary visa holders in hardship
whose visa status is tied to their due to COVID-19 may be able to get
Remember that employment
employment are at greater risk of an Emergency Benefit from Work
legislation has not changed.
exploitation. and Income at the Ministry of Social
Employers must continue to comply
with their legal obligations. Immigration New Zealand and Development.
Employment New Zealand’s Labour Visit: workandincome.govt.nz/
An employer must follow a fair
Inspectorate take the issue of temporaryvisa
process whenever they want to
migrant exploitation extremely
make an employee redundant.
seriously.
Employers cannot make someone
redundant without going through a Exploitation for work is a serious
workplace change process first. crime. Employers who exploit Self-isolation
migrants can be imprisoned for up
The employer needs a genuine If a migrant is required to self-
to 7 years and fined up to NZD
business reason to restructure and isolate and they are experiencing
$100,000. Additionally, they will be
will need to state this reason clearly difficulty in doing so, they should
placed on a list of non-compliant
to the employees or union as they contact their Embassy or Consulate
employers and unable to support
go through the proper process. for assistance. Contact details are
visa applications for a period of
For more information about time. available on the Ministry of Foreign
offering redundancy, including Affairs and Trade website.
The Immigration Act 2009 sets out
employer obligations for the period Visit: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/
criminal offences relating to
of notice you must provide and final embassies
immigration.
payments, including redundancy
compensation, visit: Some types of exploitation include
www.employment.govt.nz/ when an employee: As part of the response to the
ending-employment/redundancy/ COVID-19 pandemic, the Temporary
›› has to pay part or all of their
Accommodation Service is working
For information about workplace wages back to the employer
with other government agencies to
change, including fair process, visit: ›› does a “deal” and is charged a assist in providing temporary
www.employment.govt.nz/ premium (money for getting a job) accommodation to those required
workplace-policies/workplace- ›› is paid too little money for their to self-isolate who are unable to do
change/ work or none at all so in their own homes.
For information about terminating ›› is made to work an excessive Visit: www.
employment agreements during number of hours, with no break or temporaryaccommodation.mbie.
COVID-19 response and recovery, have no time-off from work govt.nz
visit : ›› is not paid for holidays or annual
www.employment.govt.nz/ leave.
leave-and-holidays/other-types-
of-leave/coronavirus-workplace/
If you are aware of instances of
terminate-employment-
migrant exploitation, contact
agreement-covid-19/
Employment New Zealand, free
phone 0800 20 90 20.
Note: If the migrant is in immediate
physical danger, call 111 and ask for
Police.
For more information, visit:
www.employment.govt.nz/
resolving-problems/types-of-
problems/migrant-exploitation
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 11Departing New Migrant support Government agencies
Zealand
Immigration Contact Centre
If a migrant is unemployed or in Websites
difficulty and wants to return to You can call the Immigration
their country of origin, they should Contact Centre from 6:00am
talk to their Consulate or Embassy. Monday to midnight on Saturday
The Consulate or Embassy should (NZT).
be able to provide advice about
Anyone who has already applied for
assistance and the availability of
a visa, should ensure they have
flights. Contact details are available
their client number, application
on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
number and passport number with
and Trade website.
them when they call.
Visit: www.mfat.govt.nz/en/
You can request urgent assistance
embassies/
from the Immigration Contact
Centre.
Migrants may also register with a
Toll-free*: 0508 558 855
local travel agency to be contacted
when the appropriate international Auckland: 09 914 4100
flights become available. Wellington: 04 910 9915
*From NZ landlines only
Access to Kiwisaver NEW ZEALAND NOW Office of Ethnic Communities
Anyone who moves to Australia, can NEW ZEALAND NOW is a The Office of Ethnic Communities is
transfer their KiwiSaver funds to an comprehensive source of targetted government’s principal advisor on
Australian superannuation scheme. information for new and ethnic diversity in New Zealand. It
You do not have to transfer your prospective migrants to Aotearoa provides information, advice and
KiwiSaver account to Australia New Zealand. The website is run by services to, and for, ethnic
though. Immigration New Zealand. communities in New Zealand and
After you’ve been living overseas administers funds to support
Web: www.newzealandnow.govt.nz
(not Australia) for 1 year, you can community development and social
take most of the savings from your cohesion. The office maintains a
KiwiSaver account. directory of ethnic community
organisations and support services.
You can withdraw:
›› your contributions Visit: www.ethniccommunities.
govt.nz
›› your employer’s contribution
›› the $1,000 kickstart (if you got it)
Human Rights Commission
›› fee subsidies (if you got these)
›› interest you have earned. The Human Rights Commission
provides human rights education
You cannot take out the
and resources, reports on human
government contributions.
rights matters, and resolves
Contact your KiwiSaver provider if disputes relating to discrimination.
you decide to transfer your
Visit: www.hrc.co.nz
KiwiSaver funds. They can guide you
through the process.
12 | Guidance for hospitality sector employersInterpreters Immigration advice Unions
and multilingual Anyone who needs personalised
information services immigration advice must use a Union Network of Migrants
Licensed Immigration Adviser or a
Union Network of Migrants is a
person exempt from licensing.
Government helplines network of migrant workers within
FIRST Union. FIRST Unemig is
When calling a government helpline, Community Law Centres o migrant-led, non-profit and non-
ask for help in the preferred Aotearoa sectarian. Unemig aims to protect
language. Interpreters are available the rights and welfare of migrant
Community Law Centres o Aotearoa
for over 180 different languages. workers in New Zealand.
operates more than 20 law centres
›› Call the helpline around New Zealand offering free Visit: unemig.org.nz
›› Ask for an interpreter and tell legal help.
them the language E tū
A lawyer is permitted to give
›› Wait to be connected to a immigration advice without a
professional interpreter who will E tū represents 10,000 members in
licence providing they hold a current
help you talk to the agency. Public and Commercial Services.
practising certificate from the New
This includes workers in the
Zealand Law Society.
hospitality and tourism sectors.
InfoNOW
Visit: communitylaw.org.nz Visit: etu.nz
InfoNOW is a free service providing
information to migrants settling in Citizens Advice Bureau Unite
New Zealand in their preferred
language. Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is an Unite covers workers in a number of
independent community workplaces, including restaurants
Phone or email InfoNOW, or use the
organisation providing free and hotels.
online chat service.
confidential information, advice,
Tel: 0800 4636 669 support and advocacy. The Citizens Visit: unite.org.nz
Advice Bureau (CAB) has a walk-in
Email: info@infonow.nz
migrant information service,
Web: www.infonow.nz
Migrant Connect, in locations
throughout the country. These
Healthline centres can give advice on
For general help related to immigration and citizenship. Call
COVID-19, call the government 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222) for
helpline on 0800 779 997. more information or visit the
website
If you think you have any COVID-19
symptoms call Healthline Visit: cab.org.nz
0800 358 5453. If you need an
interpreter, press 1 after you dial Licensed Immigration Advisers
the number and you will be
The New Zealand Immigration
connected to a Healthline worker,
Advisers Authority can put you in
say your language and wait on the
touch with a licensed adviser in your
line until you are connected with
area. The advisers provide a
someone who speaks your
commercial service.
language.
Visit: www.iaa.govt.nz
Guidance for hospitality sector employers | 13You can also read
