Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government plans to ramp up its refugee programme again to meet the full 1500 quota. It has fallen short of the target since the number was introduced in 2020, with Covid border closures having an impact the last two years.
It comes as immigration changes also take effect today, with Green List Straight to Residence visa applications opening.
The quota would also include an increased proportion of refugees from the Middle East and Africa - 20 percent, up from 15 percent - and would include 200 places for Syrian refugees including Kurdish minorities. Emergency and urgent resettlement places for the quota were also increased from 35 to 100.
However, 200 places set aside for refugees fleeing the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last year will be also counted as part of the 2022/23 intake.
In a statement this morning, Immigration Minister Michael Wood said the government was providing a responsive and streamlined immigration system to relieve workforce shortages while providing humanitarian support.
"The programme is back at its full capacity and will resettle 1500 refugees each year," he said. "These changes ensure that the programme remains responsive to the protection needs of refugees coming into New Zealand."
He said the new Green List also offered potential migrants hoping to join critical workforces more certainty.
"The streamlined process makes it easier for employers to attract and hire people that will help address shortages in these highly skilled areas."
The separate 'Work to Residence' and 'Highly Paid' resident pathways would open for applications from 29 September next year, he said, "once they have obtained 24 months of acceptable work in New Zealand".
