[IanR]

The UK's Daily Mail is running with this today:

Expats' paradise lost in New Zealand's jobs crisis - just weeks after it was named best place to make a fresh start

By Richard Shears
Last updated at 12:01 AM on 06th July 2009

Only a few weeks ago, New Zealand was identified as the best place for British expats to make a fresh start.

It didn't take long for the accolade to wear thin.

The dreams of hundreds who left for a better life on the other side of the world are now turning into nightmares......more....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1197713/Expats-paradise-lost-New-Zealands-jobs-crisis--just-weeks-named-best-place-make-fresh-start.html

[winka]

I feel for those out of work and in this situation of uncertainty.

Hopefully this recession moves off soon and this will all be sorted.

[stephenom]

Typical Daily Mail story focusing on the negatives. Funny it can only come up with one example and also its talking about people on work visas, Residents this doesn't effect.

[Moorf]

Typical reporting for that paper, yes, but as friends of the Kemps via Facebook I can say they are not the only people this is happening to. What saddens me is that many who aren't so "visible" or have the amazing support of forums such as Move2NZ (which are an invaluable immigrant support facility in Chch) and ENZ don't get in the news and suffer in silence.

[eassae]

NZ Herald had a similar story also quoting Mike Bell: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10581476

[Moorf]

Mike and Tammy are an absolute godsend to many new immigrants and run a fantastic facility in Chch should anyone need their help. I encourage anyone who has problems or foresees problems to contact them.

http://www.move2nz.com/about.aspx

[peebles16]

Mike and Tammy are an absolute godsend to many new immigrants and run a fantastic facility in Chch should anyone need their help. I encourage anyone who has problems or foresees problems to contact them.

http://www.move2nz.com/about.aspx

I'd second that :yes

Karenx

[M-Squared]

Mike and Tammy are an absolute godsend to many new immigrants and run a fantastic facility in Chch should anyone need their help. I encourage anyone who has problems or foresees problems to contact them.

http://www.move2nz.com/about.aspx

I went to their seminar in July 2007 in London with my parents. It was at NZ House on the top floor. It really helped them accept our upcoming move. :nice1

[YouMeAndThree]

Mike and Tammy are an absolute godsend to many new immigrants and run a fantastic facility in Chch should anyone need their help. I encourage anyone who has problems or foresees problems to contact them.

http://www.move2nz.com/about.aspx

Ditto that.

[JandM]

Typical Daily Mail story focusing on the negatives. Funny it can only come up with one example and also its talking about people on work visas, Residents this doesn't effect.

I don't like the Daily Mail any more than you evidently do. However, I do feel sorry for the people this is happening to. And we have lots of forumites who are on various kinds of work visas and who don't have their residency yet: they're bound to be concerned.

[luckystar]

We are going to one of the all day Seminars that Mike and Tammy from Move2NZ are running in the UK this coming September.

[IanR]

About 900 (Telecom Auckland) workers have been told they no longer have jobs with Transfield and Downer, but those who want to sign up with Visionstream will have to switch from working for the company as employees to being owner/operators........
...........The contractor questioned whether migrant workers - about 400 of the 900 - would be able to become owner/operators under their visas....
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/small-business/news/article.cfm?c_id=85&objectid=10582933
Chorus was still working with Immigration NZ on how migrant workers it had brought in from the Philippines two years ago would transfer to the new company

It'll be very interesting to see how immigration handle this!

[Moorf]

Just been thinking things through.. .do those who come on WTR or work visas pay the migrant levy? If so, you'd think there would be more support for them when things get tough on the work front...

I ask because, as the NZIS website states, it's purpose is to

"... contribute to the funding of programmes intended to assist the successful settlement of migrants. For instance, the levy funds help with costs related to the Language Line telephone interpreting service, the Migrant Employment Assistance service, and the Citizens Advice Bureau Language Link service. The funds also include a contribution towards English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition for adults and children.

The migrant levy is also used to carry out research into settlement issues and the impacts of immigration. For instance, the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand (LisNZ) and short-term research on settlement and immigration. The information gained from this research helps Immigration New Zealand develop immigration policies that can best help migrants settle in and contribute to New Zealand."

Source: http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/migrantlevy.htm

[sekilau]

For WTR->PR, applicant is not charge for the levy until the applicant fulfill the 3-months-in-9-months requirement.

Just been thinking things through.. .do those who come on WTR or work visas pay the migrant levy? If so, you'd think there would be more support for them when things get tough on the work front...

I ask because, as the NZIS website states, it's purpose is to



Source: http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/migrantlevy.htm

[Moorf]

Thanks for that, Sekilau :nice1

[sekilau]

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman and Immigration service delivery manager Steve Cantlon have something to say:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10583027

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman :

He also said he had invited Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman to a meeting but had only had an answer from the associate minister which was "less than favourable".

A spokeswoman for Mr Coleman said the minister has "prior commitments and is unable to attend."

Immigration service delivery manager Steve Cantlon

Immigration service delivery manager Steve Cantlon said the country still has skill shortages in some areas of the economy.

He said claims of an "anti-migrant job crisis" are not founded on facts.

"New Zealand immigration policy has always been based upon ensuring that New Zealanders have the first opportunity to take up work vacancies. This policy has and continues to be reflected in the Government's official skill shortage lists," Mr Cantlon said.

He said a temporary work permit is just that, temporary.

"One can only feel sympathy for the plight of families who have had to return home because of the changing labour market. However temporary workers have always known that there was no certainty that their permits would be extended or that they would be able to progress on to permanent residence," Mr Cantlon said.


Thank you Mr Cantlon, your answer reminded us that we are just "temporary" for solving your country's labor shortage. We are nothing but just a part, which could be disposed when we no longer fit in.
And also thank you for your sympathetic reply to those families, who are not considered as your people

[Moorf]

Can't argue with that, and the Kemps, despite their plight, have always said the same, obviously their treatment/advice from NZIS has been terrible and inconsistent, but they do appreciate their temporary status and are already talking of retraining to be able to come back to NZ in the future.

Thanks for posting that snippet :)

[stephenom]

I don't like the Daily Mail any more than you evidently do. However, I do feel sorry for the people this is happening to. And we have lots of forumites who are on various kinds of work visas and who don't have their residency yet: they're bound to be concerned.

I do feel sorry for the people it has affected, but surely if you go to a country on a work permit you must feel that at some point the visa will not be renewed and the possibility of having to leave.

[JandM]

Apparently not. The more I read forums (not just this one), the more people I realize there are that don't think the same way I do.

[KelvinAng]

I'm going off on a tangent here, but even as a permanent resident (ie, non-citizen), you could be deported back to your originating country on grounds of being an undesirable character.

source: http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/general/ris-immigration-act-deportation.asp


A resident may be deported where there is clear evidence of immigration fraud, or where the person commits a serious criminal offence after the grant of residence.


This probably wouldn't apply to the vast majority of immigrants but it shows that by no means a residency permit guarantees residency under all circumstances.

[IanW99]

I'm going off on a tangent here, but even as a permanent resident (ie, non-citizen), you could be deported back to your originating country on grounds of being an undesirable character.

source: http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/general/ris-immigration-act-deportation.asp



This probably wouldn't apply to the vast majority of immigrants but it shows that by no means a residency permit guarantees residency under all circumstances.

Yep, that is a bit of a tangent :)

I wouldn't consider the first part as being someone losing residency, if you were given residency through fraud and you are found out then it will be revoked i.e. you never really had residency.

For the latter part, yes you are right serious criminal offences can see you being deported. It is interesting to note (well to me) that the longer you live in NZ the more serious the offence has to be.

Ian

[bananamuffin]

I'm going off on a tangent here, but even as a permanent resident (ie, non-citizen), you could be deported back to your originating country on grounds of being an undesirable character.

source: http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/general/ris-immigration-act-deportation.asp



This probably wouldn't apply to the vast majority of immigrants but it shows that by no means a residency permit guarantees residency under all circumstances.

I think that this is a given in most countries. That's one of the differences between permanent residence and citizenship. Permanent residence doesn't afford you all the same protections as citizenship does. I know that in the US green card holders (permanent residents) can still be deported if they commit a federal crime that's deemed punishable to that extent.

This I think is part of the logic behind having to wait a certain period of time between getting permanent residence and applying for citizenship.

[2371]

Our lesson here must be to do our risk management.

Hope for the best but expect the worst. Saying that, i think everybody who is migrating to another country must model-in a worst case scenario where the whole endeavour fails and one has to return to the home country. For this one should have a sufficient financial cushion kept aside.

But i've always been a bit paranoid :)

[bananamuffin]

Our lesson here must be to do our risk management.

Hope for the best but expect the worst. Saying that, i think everybody who is migrating to another country must model-in a worst case scenario where the whole endeavour fails and one has to return to the home country. For this one should have a sufficient financial cushion kept aside.

But i've always been a bit paranoid :)

Solid! :nice1

[peebles16]

Just got news through that SMIRC the centre/service that Mike and Tammy Bell run has been closed due legal issue around immigration law and advice :( Great shame especially given the difficulties many are having just now as they are a fantastic support to folks - hopefully it'll get sorted out soon :yes

Karenx

[Wooly_Cow]

Just got news through that SMIRC the centre/service that Mike and Tammy Bell run has been closed due legal issue around immigration law and advice :( Great shame especially given the difficulties many are having just now as they are a fantastic support to folks - hopefully it'll get sorted out soon :yes

Karenx

I doubt it will be sorted quickly. I assume they have been caught by the change in the law that only certified advisors can give immigration advice. It is a great shame but this law also to an extent applies to all of us on this and other forums......we can't give advice. I personally try to say 'this is not advice, this is my personal experience'. Whilst I understand NZIS being a bit naffed off with frequent comments from applicants 'I read this on the internet so it must be true' it sort of goes against the Kiwi spirit of people helping each other.

I hope Mike and Tammy do get it sorted because especially now all newbies could do with as much help as they can get :)

[IanW99]

I doubt it will be sorted quickly. I assume they have been caught by the change in the law that only certified advisors can give immigration advice. It is a great shame but this law also to an extent applies to all of us on this and other forums......we can't give advice.
...


From their website, it would confirm what you have stated above.

Settlement Service Closed
Notice served on 'Move2NZ'
Following recent appearances on New Zealand television regarding an immigration emergency a legal notice from the Immigration Advisors Authority (IAA) was served on 'Move2NZ' on the afternoon of 14th July 2009.

The notice states that Mike Bell of 'Move2NZ' has presented himself illegally as an immigration adviser and threatens prosecution if unspecified actions are repeated with penalties up to 7 years in prison.

As a result our free migrant support centre has been closed until further notice and all information on immigration removed from this site.

We apologise for this necessity.

I urge all members of this forum to ensure that they have read Providing Immigration Advice – Please Read (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24859)

Ian

[Wooly_Cow]

I urge all members of this forum to ensure that they have read Providing Immigration Advice – Please Read (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24859)

Ian

I concur - there are a few threads where the posters are getting dangerously close to giving immigration advice (imho)

[M-Squared]

Completely agree with the above. I'm rather surprised Mike wasn't registered, to be honest, especially after the change in the law... :confused:

[peebles16]

Completely agree with the above. I'm rather surprised Mike wasn't registered, to be honest, especially after the change in the law... :confused:

I agree actually but clearly they are not :confused: Think they feel (IMHO and it is just that :yes ) that what they are offering is 'settlement' support and that anything that is offered about 'immigration' is publically available so therefore not breaking the law.... Tis murky waters me thinks and for brains far more legal than mine to work out :exit

Just thought it was useful info for folks to have.

Karenx