The government has announced the border will fully open on July 31, two months earlier than signalled.
The date was revealed as part of the government's immigration reset, which is aimed at building a highly skilled, high wage economy.
It's created a 'green list' of about 85 sought-after occupations including surgeons, doctors, engineers and more.
They can enter NZ on a work visa and basically apply for residency straight away.
Jobs on a second tier list include nurses, teachers and midwives.
Those migrants will have to wait two years before taking the residency path.
Employers wanting to bring workers in on temporary visas must apply for accreditation, pass a good character test and pay the median hourly wage of $27.76. But the struggling hospitality and tourism sectors get a temporary exemption, with a lower wage threshold until April 2023.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi tells Lisa Owen he is confident the department is ready for the rush.
