AusLeisure

Tourism Industry Aotearoa has welcomed the recently announced changes to working visas that aim to relieve some of the immediate pressures on employers.

NZ Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced that:

• The visas of working holidaymakers already in New Zealand with visas expiring between 26th August 2022 and 31st May 2023 will be extended by six months
• New visas will be issued to existing Working Holiday Visa holders who have yet to arrive, allowing them to enter New Zealand by 31st January 2023
• The number of visas permitted under capped Working Holiday Schemes will be doubled - a one-off increase to recognise the spots that were unused last year due to the border closure. This will give the ability for up to an extra 12,000 working holiday makers to be able to enter and work in New Zealand.

Minister Wood also confirmed the sector agreement for seasonal snow and adventure tourism, which gives access to migrant workers in important seasonal snow and adventure tourism roles at $25.00 per hour. The wage threshold will be increased each year until the sector agreement ends in 2025.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram advised “this is very positive news for the tourism industry, we need great people joining tourism so we can gear up for the summer season.

“We are hopeful this will help to relieve some of the immediate pressures on employers. And there are added benefits - while not all Working Holiday Visa holders will work in tourism and hospitality, they will all want to enjoy tourism activities and experiences while they are in New Zealand.”

A recent survey by TIA found that 75% of tourism businesses are currently recruiting across more than 30 different role types - everything from bike mechanics to marketing and sales roles, operations managers and sea kayak guides. But 59% of vacancies were receiving less than five applications.

While most tourism employers would prefer to hire New Zealanders, half of the survey respondents expected they would need WHV holders to fill some roles this summer.

Ingram adds “TIA has been working closely with the Backpacker, Youth and Adventure Tourism Association (BYATA) to highlight to the Government the challenges facing tourism businesses. We are grateful that Ministers have listened to us and put in place measures to support the recovery of the tourism industry workforce this summer.”

There will still be plenty of opportunities for New Zealanders interested in working in tourism, she says. Tourism has fantastic career opportunities in every part of the country and an enormous variety of roles are available for those interested in joining the industry at this defining time.

Meanwhile, the tourism industry is also reviewing the Better Work Action Plan released for consultation last week. The Plan has the long-term objective of building a more sustainable workforce model for the tourism industry and individuals who choose to build their career in tourism.

View the results of TIA’s workforce survey.

Image: TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram with Hon Michael Wood at  immigration announcement in Auckland

Related Articles

24th February 2022 - Survey shows New Zealand tourism business revenue plunging 60%

18th January 2022 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa announces new Chief Executive appointment

11th October 2021 - TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts to step down

17th September 2021 - Plans revealed for future TRENZ industry events

9th June 2022 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa adds new award to celebrate regenerative tourism 

1st February 2022 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa says its time to plan for reconnecting New Zealand

29th November 2021 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa releases recovery roadmap

8th November 2021 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa advises caution required around adventure tourism proposals 

2nd September 2021 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa survey finds severe mental health challenges among tourism operators

6th October 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa offers ‘unprecedented’ loan facility for adventure tourism operators

14th September 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa urges next government to give tourism industry a central role in regions’ recovery

4th September 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa calls for ‘true partnership’ for industry recovery

23rd July 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa reveals action plan for New Zealand’s next Government

4th June 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa urges businesses to act quickly on tourism funding

11th May 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa happy about limited easing of COVID-19 restrictions

19th March 2020 - Tourism Industry Aotearoa shares concerns over business closures and job losses

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.