New Zealand’s incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins expected to make immigration settings changes

Business, tourism and agriculture leaders are calling on New Zealand’s incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to make immigration settings a top priority.

Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand’s next prime minister after being confirmed as the only nominee for the Labour Party leadership, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation on Thursday.

The call comes as the country faces increasing pressure from depleted industries due to the ongoing pandemic, with many sectors relying on skilled workers from abroad to fill the gap. Although the current government has made some progress in easing restrictions on long-term visas for essential workers, advocates say more needs to be done to ensure that businesses have access to the people they need. “Immigration settings are an important part of our economic recovery,” said one business leader. “We need to ensure that we have enough people with skills and experience in order to rebuild our economy.”

Prime Minister Hipkins is expected to announce new measures soon aimed at improving access to foreign labour and encouraging investment in certain industries.

How he chooses to address this issue will be closely watched by business, industry, and tourism leaders alike.

Sources: Click here