General Publications
Department of Labour Annual Report 2006
Vote Immigration
Output class: Services to increase the capacity of New Zealand through immigration
Description
Services in this output class are aimed at increasing the capacity of New Zealand through the participation and contribution of migrants to society and the economy. This output class contributed to the following medium-term goals:
- New Zealand workplaces effectively balance employers’ and employees’ needs and interests by ensuring temporary migrant workers have genuine work that does not displace New Zealanders and that employers are aware of their obligations to migrant employees
- Global skills and talent are attracted and retained by understanding New Zealand’s needs and opportunities and helping skilled and family-sponsored migrants take up these opportunities by supporting them through the settlement process, and by facilitating visitors’ and students’ entry to New Zealand that contributes to tourism and international education industries. Business migrants (investors and entrepreneurs) create employment opportunities and provide the investment to grow businesses in New Zealand
- People move easily in and out of New Zealand while the integrity of our borders is maintained by meeting or exceeding international obligations and protecting New Zealand’s interests in relation to international labour flows as well as the related issues of trans-national crime and people smuggling. Enhancing border security systems contributes to international security issues.
The three objectives in this output class are:
- advising the Government on the workforce
- increasing the size and quality of New Zealand's workforce to support economic growth
- facilitating movement of people into and out of New Zealand, while protecting the integrity of the border.
Objective: Advising the Government on the workforce
Advice on employment, skills and immigration aims to ensure policy fits with and drives achievement of New Zealand’s workforce goals, which include skilled migration to increase capacity. The context for decision making on policy settings includes information and analysis of national and international workforces and trends, and the connection between local and international labour markets. This will inform decision making on targeting skilled migrants, entering into international labour agreements and policy settings for skilled migration and work permits and visas.
Activities
Activities carried out included:
- research and data collection to provide high-quality, evidence-based policy advice on the workforce
- research and evaluation about migrant labour market participation, migration trends and statistics
- advice on policy settings to attract and retain skilled Migrants
- advice on delivering positive economic advantages for New Zealand through immigration
- developing policies and strategies to encourage skilled New Zealanders working offshore to return here
- advice on immigration legislation, regulation and policy that enhances New Zealand’s workforce.
Performance information
Results measures
Performance standard
Performance to 30 June 2006
The Minister of Immigration is satisfied with the quality of the Department’s policy advice. The Appendix to this part of the Annual Report sets out the quality standards for policy advice.
A survey of the Minister of Immigration was undertaken for July – December 2005. For the quality of policy advice given by the Department, the Minister gave an average rating of 2.80 (on a scale of 1 to 5).
The overall average rating given by the Minister was 2.98. This rating covered policy advice, ministerial servicing and key departmental activity.
Assessment of the policy process and advice through external and internal review of specific projects.
Policy papers followed a standard advice process with a clear procedure for quality assurance. All policy papers were reviewed internally and Cabinet papers were subject to external agency review. A selection of Cabinet papers and research reports were submitted to external reviewers who review against benchmarks.
The Immigration Act Review had a specific consultation feedback process and advice was provided. Substantive research reports were reviewed externally and, where appropriate, by academic reviewers.
The Minister of Immigration is satisfied with the quality of ministerial servicing.
A survey of the Minister of Immigration was undertaken for July – December 2005. For the quality of ministerial servicing by the Department, the Minister gave an average rating of 3 (on a scale of 1 to 5).
The overall average rating given by the Minister was 2.98. This rating covered policy advice, ministerial servicing and key departmental activity.
Activity information
Policy advice and ministerial servicing will be delivered as agreed with the Minister of Immigration and as detailed in the Vote Immigration Output Plan.
Policy advice and ministerial servicing were delivered as agreed with the Minister of Immigration and as detailed in the 2005/06 Vote Immigration Output Plan.