In 2013, we published a report on a performance audit we carried out of how well the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry), through Immigration New Zealand, and other agencies were supporting new migrants to settle and work in New Zealand.
Our audit focused on the support available to new migrants in the two to five years after they arrive in New Zealand. We looked at the effectiveness of settlement support services and whether they were achieving the desired results. This article reports on the progress the Ministry has made in making improvements in response to the seven recommendations in our 2013 report.
New Zealand continues to place importance on attracting skilled migrants to meet labour and skill shortages. In 2014/15, 24,274 people gained New Zealand residency as a skilled migrant. Research by the Ministry shows that most skilled migrants stay in New Zealand long term, and that the number staying has been steadily increasing. To ensure that these migrants settle well in New Zealand, it is important that Immigration New Zealand and its partners maintain the focus on and momentum of the work they are doing. This is so they do not lose sight of their objectives to support migrants to settle and work. It is also important that value for money is achieved through the targeting and impact of resources used to help migrants settle.