Government starts its business

Today marked the official opening of the new Parliament, when the Government laid out its priorities in the Speech from the Throne (available in full here).

The speech noted that in order to help ease pressure on infrastructure, the Government would make sure the immigration settings are right. 

Specifically, it said it would “cut down on low quality international education courses and will ensure work visas issued reflect genuine skill shortages”.

These areas were flagged in the run-up to the election and in the subsequent coalition agreement.

ENZ Acting Chief Executive John Goulter noted that in a media interview on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the possible reduction in overall immigration numbers as an estimate of 30,000 rather than a target.

“Ms Ardern said the Minister of Immigration would be working through various proposals but she did not expect an announcement soon. Instead, the priorities for the Government’s first 100-day plan would be on areas such as housing and health.”

Meanwhile, ENZ has worked with fellow agencies including Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Education on a response to queries. This message is now posted on INZ’s website here, and we encourage you to read and share this widely. It is reproduced below:

As we work with our ministers in the new Government, agencies will continue to provide information and services to the international education sector.

We will advise students, education providers and agents of any developments in the sector that may impact them as soon as any decisions are made.

In the meantime, there have been no changes made to immigration settings. Immigration NZ continues to process student visas and post-study work visas as usual.