Summarised by Centrist
The government will create two new residency pathways from mid-2026, making it easier for skilled and experienced migrants to settle, as tens of thousands of citizens continue to head overseas.
Ministers Nicola Willis and Erica Stanford say the changes are needed to fill labour shortages. Critics warn they risk making New Zealand a training ground for Australia.
The first new pathway will apply to migrants in skilled roles meeting experience and salary thresholds. The second targets trades and technical workers who meet qualification, work experience, and wage thresholds.
The policy comes amid what officials call a record exodus. Between July 2024 and July 2025, 73,400 New Zealanders left, compared with 25,800 returning, Stats NZ said.
The government has already relaxed visitor visas to attract “digital nomads” and influencers, and loosened the “golden visa” for wealthy investors.
Infrastructure NZ backed the direction but pressed for a faster start.
Coalition partner New Zealand First split from the government under the ‘agree to disagree’ clause. Leader Winston Peters said the plan was an “unfocused immigration proposal,” warning: “New Zealand is being used as a stepping stone into Australia.”
He argued the country needs 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.”
