The number of overseas workers coming to New Zealand is gathering pace, with 8061 people arriving in Aotearoa on work visas in August, according to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. However while the number of overseas workers entering the country has been steadily increasing since the start of this year, the total number of people in the country on work visas has declined sharply over the same period. Most of that decline will almost certainly be due to people on work visas receiving residence visas under the 2021 Residence Visa Scheme set up by the Government last year. This provided a fast track residence visa application process for skilled overseas workers who had already been in this country for several years. That has seen the number of people in NZ on residence visas increase by 60,870 since the end of last year.

Source: Stuff September 21, 2022 00:14 UTC