Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association welcome the announcement from Minister Faafoi and Immigration New Zealand that Working Holiday Visa holders will have their visas extended by six months, that the Supplementary Seasonal Employment Visas will transfer to open work visas, and that the Essential Skills Visas will be extended to 12 months.
In a time when industries are rebuilding, unemployment is below five per cent, and a record number of jobs have been advertised three months in a row, these measures will help alleviate some pressure on employers while giving certainty to workers in uncertain times.
"We further welcome Minister Faafoi’s commitment to the WHV scheme for the future. This is a group that spends 12 times the average tourist into our economy," says BYATA.
"With many WHVs now set to expire between Christmas and New Year, we encourage INZ to further extend the WHVs another six months in a timely manner as the worker shortage in summer will only worsen with an influx of Australian holiday makers into our regions at a time when borders will still be closed to all but a small number of such potential WHV applicants based in Australia.
"We will continue proactively working with INZ in solving these issues."
