New Zealand's visa processing system are set to be improved, something industry leaders have called on in the past.
Hospitality New Zealand said Immigration New Zealand’s acknowledgement that changes are required to improve visa processing delays is well overdue.
Delays of up to three months have put considerable pressure on the hospitality and tourism sectors as they prepare for the upcoming summer season.
Hospitality New Zealand Chief Executive, Steve Armitage, said the current delays continue to cause operational, financial, and mental stress for both businesses and migrants.
“We are routinely hearing from members across the country who have not been able to source qualified staff locally and need to bring in talent to keep their businesses going and to deliver high-quality experiences for their guests,” said Armitage.
“Hospitality operators up and down the country lodged applications well in advance of the peak summer season to ensure they are staffed up and ready to go, but they are being let down by a system that is slow to learn from previous years. This situation is not ‘out of the blue’ – it repeats every year and should have been anticipated by officials.”
Armitage said that in particular, the extended wait times for Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) have prompted many workers to seek opportunities elsewhere, where they can secure visas more quickly and efficiently. He acknowledged the need for a balance between thorough vetting of applicants and timely processing but emphasised the urgency of the situation.
Visitor visa delays have also threatened to impact New Zealand’s appeal as a destination. Although the average processing time is three weeks, delays from key markets like India are significantly longer, potentially deterring visitors from travelling to New Zealand.
“The Government has been clear it is seeking to double exports, and recovery of tourism and hospitality is key to that goal. A functional immigration system, with streamlined and efficient visa processing, is critical to support this objective,” he said.
“While today’s acknowledgement is a positive step, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage the Government to consider further improvements to ensure the industry can thrive and is resourced to contribute to New Zealand’s economic goals.”
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