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Queenstown and Wānaka restaurants will be able to employ migrant waiters under the new rules introduced Tuesday. (File photo)
Unemployed migrants can now work as waiters, cleaners and tour guides in the Queenstown Lakes district.
Immigration New Zealand announced Tuesday that 21 tourism and hospitality roles have been added to the under-bid list, allowing employers to support a work visa application for roles paid below the median salary.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult was delighted with the changes.
The district has relied heavily on foreign workers in the past due to its small population and large numbers of visitors, he said.
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“I couldn’t see any other way to help these companies staff themselves,” Boult said.
However, Hilton Hotels cluster general manager Chris Ehmann said that while the news was positive, it only removed one step in a 10-week hiring process and would have little impact on the summer job shortage.
Debbie Jamieson / Stuff
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult with MP Stuart Nash during Nash’s first visit to Queenstown as tourism minister.
The biggest problem was that migrant workers could not stay more than three years and until then they had to pay to renew their visa every six months.
“There is no certainty beyond that,” he said. “We are all trying to be positive about it, but the underlying problem is not being addressed.”
About 600 Queenstown-based jobs were advertised at a council-hosted job fair last week.
The undersupply list also included roles such as executive chef, restaurant supervisor, and concierge.
“Removing that barrier is one less important thing to worry about when simply staying afloat until international visitors return is a challenge.”
Southland MP Joseph Mooney, who represents Queenstown, said the change meant that many thousands of workers on employer-assisted work visas could get more jobs.
“There was great concern in the community [that] work visas were expiring and there was a struggle to find not only Kiwi workers, but any worker.
“I had heard of situations where companies had to close because they couldn’t get enough staff.”
RNZ
Queenstown has launched some heavy artillery in an attempt to attract domestic tourists this summer, as it tries to make up for the absence of international visitors.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash was pushed by Queenstown and Wānaka tour operators to find a solution to the looming shortage of summer tourism workers during a recent visit to the area.
Boult thanked Nash and Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi for the changes.
Boult said that the Maori te reo term “taura here”, which refers to those who come from elsewhere and have become an integral part of the community, was relevant in the district.
“The Taura here are needed and welcome here and this change from the Ministry of Social Development reflects that,” he said.
