Functional immigration system 'critical' to government goals, according to Hospitality NZ
Delays in visa processing across New Zealand are causing operational, financial, and mental stress for businesses ahead of the upcoming summer season, according to Hospitality NZ.
Steve Armitage, chief executive of Hospitality NZ, said they have been 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 running.
"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," Armitage said in a statement.
"This situation is not 'out of the blue' – it repeats every year and should have been anticipated by officials."
Armitage also called out the extended wait times for Accredited Employer Work Visas, which he said have resulted to many workers to seek opportunities in places where they can quickly and efficiently secure visas.
"The government has been clear it is seeking to double exports, and tourism and hospitality's recovery is key to that goal. A functional immigration system, with streamlined and efficient visa processing, is critical to support this objective," he said.
He made the remarks as the New Zealand government acknowledged that changes are required to curb the delays in the country's visa processing.
"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," Armitage said.
