NZAMI Seminar - The Revised Immigration Act & BMB Update

of Massey University will explain in detail the changes in the Act and highlight the ramifications of the changes. Business Migration Branch managers will update you on policy and best practice. For more details, please click on the Seminars/Events tab.

NZAMI 20th Anniversary

NZAMI proudly celebrated its 20^th Anniversary on Friday 27 November. A number of the Association’s founder members attended and the Board took the opportunity to acknowledge and thank them for their contribution. NZAMI would not exist today if it were not for the efforts and dedication of these people. Roy Middleton, Rod Trott, Lily Kok, Ron Moncur, Ted Legget, John Holmes, Jimmy Lee and Ming Tiang, all members since 1990, attended, as well as past Chairmen, Roy Middleton, Bill Milnes and Richard Howard.

Special awards were presented to Roy Middleton, co-founder of NZAMI & founder Chairman, to Lily Kok, NZAMI’s longest serving office bearer, who served for 19 years as Treasurer, and posthumously to Keith Downs, who served as Secretary for 15 years.

NZAMI Chairman, Coral Wong, opened the formal proceedings by saying that the NZAMI was formed by a group of far sighted immigration advisers who saw the need for an association which would work to raise industry standards, lobby government on immigration policy and look after prospective migrants’ interests.

Members were honoured to host Associate Minister Kate Wilkinson as their special guest. In her speech, Minister Wilkinson spoke of the importance of immigration to the development of New Zealand and she acknowledged the important role that NZAMI has played in the immigration industry.

Founding Chairman of NZAMI Roy Middleton’s message at the first NZAMI conference is as relevant now as it was then: ‘We have to open up this country of ours to more people to get an economy of scale, to defeat the tyranny of distance, to fulfil the vision of our founders by entering into a genuine partnership of all stakeholders, or face the consequences’. Click here to read Roy’s speech

Welcome to the NZAMI Website

Welcome! The NZAMI currently has 140 practising members, who are either immigration advisers or immigration lawyers, and 60 Associate members.  Our ‘Find an Adviser’ search page will allow you to create a shorter list of members according to your specific requirements, such which visa/permit you need assistance with, or the language you would like your adviser to speak. You will be able to click on their individual names, read their profiles and link directly through to their websites. You can conduct your research quickly and easily, knowing that you are accessing fully professional advisers and that you are protected by their relevant governing bodies.  I encourage you to find out more about the Association by clicking on the ‘About NZAMI’ tabs and reading the FAQs. Our comprehensive list of links offers you the best websites relating to settlement matters.  If you have any unanswered questions, please contact us through our Inquiry Form.

The site also offers information to visitors who are interested in becoming members or attending our comprehensive CPD seminars – registration for our programmes can be done from this site.

The NZAMI fully supports the licensing of immigration advisers and is proud to have played an active advisory role in the development of the licensing process. Licensed advisers who wish to belong to a professional body choose to become members of the NZAMI, which is New Zealand’s premier professional association for the immigration industry. We trust that you will derive great benefit from our site.

Coral Wong – NZAMI Chairman

Conference 2009

The Conference was held at Waipuna Hotel on July 31 2009. Keynote speakers were the Minister of Immigration Dr Jonathon Coleman, the IAA's Registrar Barry Smedts, Jan Clark of the Department of Labour, and the Director of Working In, Scott Mathieson.

Conference topics included:

The Registrar, Immigration Advisers Authority, Barry Smedts - An update on licensing and the future.

The Acting Deputy Secretary, Department of Labour (Workforce), Jan Clark - The business of INZ and current operational challenges and changes planned for the coming year.

The Director, Working In, Scott Mathieson - Marketing New Zealand immigration overseas, current trends and expectations for the future.

Chief Economist, ANZ National Bank, Cameron Bagrie - The impact of migration on the New Zealand economy.

The Minister of Immigration, Hon Dr Jonathon Coleman - The Auditor General’s report into Immigration New Zealand. The Government’s immigration policy priorities and opportunities to use immigration to contribute to New Zealand’s economic recovery.

IMSED Research Team, Department of Labour, Robert Hodgson & Anne-Marie Masgoret - 1) Migration trends of interest to the immigration advisory profession and an update on adviser lodged application statistics 2) Findings from recent longitudinal research on migrants.

New Zealand Sales Director of Anglo Pacific International, Jason Diggs - A brief update on international relocation matters.

Business Broker, Barfoot & Thompson, Paul Gilberd - A brief update on the NZ real estate market and returning ex-pats.

Founder and Director, Bwagy, Ben Young - Maximising your business potential through the internet. An eye-opener on the power of the internet and how it can deliver business results to your front door.

Operations Manager, Malcolm Pacific David Cooper - The Business of Immigration – Then and Now – reflecting on the past 25 years.

New Immigration Investor Policies Unplugged

Business Supports Investor Migrant Policy

The revamped business migration scheme is a welcome policy adjustment that will provide New Zealand with new skills and assist the deepening of its capital base according to the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"We congratulate Ministers Brownlee and Coleman for introducing these changes," said Chamber CEO Charles Finny.

"New Zealand's productivity growth hinges on increased investment and more entrepreneurialism and the revamp will go some way to addressing the deficit we face there.

"New Zealand needs new migrants and the previous rules provided too much of an obstacle to attracting business and entrepreneurial people." 

"New Zealand competes with other countries for these migrants and the new rules will go someway towards correcting the imbalance."

"The liberalisation of business immigration rules on exactly these lines was a key plank of our submission at the Prime Minister's Employment Summit and we are pleased it has been picked up."

"Migrants make a significant contribution to New Zealand's economic performance through the international linkages they provide.   If New Zealand is to attract its share of migrants, we need a migration policy which does not throw up unnecessary hurdles," Mr Finny concluded.

SOURCE: Scoop Business Wire

Multi-million dollar boost for New Zealand

Significant changes announced today by the Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Economic Development are likely to see millions of dollars invested into New Zealand by wealthy migrants, says investment management specialist Tim Howe from Ocean Partners.

A new investor policy ­- the Migrant Investment Policy - will come into effect, replacing the existing Active Investment Management Policy.

"We see a large number of wealthy international investors considering New Zealand as home but the overall New Zealand migrant proposition has not always been strong enough to attract this group. Today's changes will go a considerable way towards ensuring New Zealand gains its share of these valuable new residents," says Tim Howe.

"It is likely that investor migrants attracted to the New Zealand proposition will not only have significant capital but also business experience ensuring a positive contribution to our country."

"Research shows that an investor's contribution goes far beyond the capital invested - in many cases companies gain access to the investors in-depth international business networks too."

Tim Howe says the policy change is a ‘win win’ for both the migrant investors and the New Zealand business sector. Investors have the opportunity to invest in growing New Zealand companies, while companies will have wider access to capital and invaluable international business acumen.

SOURCE: Scoop Business Wire

"New Zealand business is in need of new capital sources, both to fund expansion and to fund the ownership succession of the many businesses that will come to the market in the next few years."

"Baby boomer business owners are turning 60 and many of these people have much of their wealth invested in their business. New capital sources will be required to fund the transition of these businesses to new ownership and free the capital required for existing owners to retire," says Howe. "Attracting capital from immigrants seeking a move to New Zealand is not a new concept; however the previous requirements made the process arduous and the investment proposition was not always compelling."

"Ocean Partners is working with a number of international business people considering immigration to New Zealand. Attracting migrant investment is a competitive process. While New Zealand heads off most of the competition from a quality of life perspective, these changes will assist to competitively position the country to the migrant investor," says Howe.

Business Migrant Scheme Revamped

Media release from:
Hon Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Economic Development
Hon Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Immigration

The Government's new business migration scheme launched today aims to boost economic performance by making New Zealand more attractive for business and entrepreneurial migrants. Attracting the right business migrants was identified as a high priority initiative at the recent Job Summit and the new government scheme has been announced by Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Immigration Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman.

"This fresh approach will ensure we bring more investors, connect them with existing business networks, and create real jobs for New Zealanders," said Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee. Announcing the new policy, Dr Coleman said that since 2005 there has been a significant drop off in business migration investment due to unrealistic investment expectations and English language requirements.

The new policy package is designed for migrants who want to invest or set up a business in New Zealand and gain permanent residence.

"For investor migrants, the previously existing three categories are streamlined to two, with more realistic requirements for capital, language skills and time spent in New Zealand annually, as well as a far greater flexibility in terms of investment vehicles," said Dr Coleman.

For entrepreneurial migrants, the new policy introduces a new Entrepreneur Plus category which complements the existing Entrepreneur category. Entrepreneur Plus offers a faster path to residence for applicants who create at least 3 fulltime jobs and invest $500,000 in their business.

 "The last government's business migration policies have not attracted investment. Since 2007, there have only been 23 migrants bought to New Zealand through Labour's business migration policy. Business migration needs to be urgently addressed, and stakeholders' feedback has been extremely positive regarding this new package," said Dr Coleman.

Jeremy Moon, the CEO of Icebreaker Clothing was a chair at the Prime Minister's Job Summit, and says the scheme is a "win win."

"Business leaders suggested this idea during the Job Summit as something that could be highly effective for little cost. I back the idea because the more investment and entrepreneurship we can get in New Zealand the better," said Mr Moon.

The new Investor policy will be implemented from 28 July 2009 and the Entrepreneur Policy from November 2009.

For more information please go to www.immigration.govt.nz/migrantinvestment.