Please note that the consultation period has ended.  Thank you to all who made submissions. The Department of Labour appreciates the time people took to consider the consultation document and provide feedback. The Minister of Immigration will announce policy changes (if any) in due course.

The Department of Labour has collated submissions on the review of immigration policies available to religious workers. A summary of submissions document has been developed. The document can be found under the ‘Downloads’ tab.

We are requesting feedback on the attached consultation document ‘Review of immigration policies for religious workers’.

The Minister of Immigration has agreed to a review of immigration policies that religious workers use to enter and work in New Zealand. The aim of the review is to ensure that:

1. visa pathways are relevant and appropriate to the needs of New Zealand and its religious communities
2. problems identified with current policies and potential risks are well managed.

The Department of Labour seeks your views on four key areas:

1. a policy objective for facilitating the entry of religious workers
2. a temporary entry visa option
3. a residence visa option
4. how partners and dependent children of religious workers on temporary visas should be treated.

A feedback form is attached for your response.

DUE DATE AND ADDRESS

NOTE: the deadline for submissions has been extended till Friday July 16.

Friday, 5pm 10 July 2010.  The form should be sent to religiousworkersreview@dol.govt.nz or to Department of Labour, 56 the Terrace, Wellington 6011, marked Attention Immigration Policy.