Tourism employers around New Zealand are celebrating the announcement that efforts are being taken to support tourism workforce recovery, according to Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA).
Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced that:
- Existing working holidaymakers in New Zealand with visas expiring between 26 August 2022 and 31 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 31 January 2023.
- The number of visas permitted under capped Working Holiday Schemes will be doubled - a one-off increase to recognise the unused spots last year due to the border closure. This will allow up to 12,000 working holidaymakers to enter and work in New Zealand.
Wood also confirmed the sector agreement for seasonal snow and adventure tourism, which gives access to migrant workers in significant seasonal snow and adventure tourism positions at $25.00 per hour. The wage threshold will increase yearly until the sector agreement ends in 2025.
This news brings good tidings for the tourism industry, which needs more workers for the upcoming summer season.
"We are hopeful this will help to relieve some of the immediate pressures on employers," said Rebecca Ingram, TIA Chief Executive. "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 in New Zealand."
A recent study by TIA found that 75 percent of tourism businesses are currently recruiting across more than 30 different role types - from bike mechanics, marketing and sales to operations managers and sea kayak guides. However, 59 percent 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 working holiday visa (WHV) holders to fill some roles this summer.
TIA has been working alongside the Backpacker, Youth and Adventure Tourism Association (BYATA) to underline tourism businesses' challenges and are grateful that Ministers have listened and put in place measures to support the recovery of the tourism industry workforce this summer."
New Zealanders interested in working in tourism will still have plenty of opportunities in every part of the country at this defining time.
The tourism industry is currently also reviewing the Better Work Action Plan released for consultation last week, which has a long-term objective of building a more sustainable workforce model for the industry and individuals starting a career in tourism.
