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Introduction

The North Island of New Zealand has recently faced extreme weather events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, resulting in widespread damage and destruction. The NZ government has launched a new visa, called the Recovery Visa, to facilitate the availability of specialist migrant workers to help in the recovery efforts. In this blog post, we will discuss the elements of Recovery Visa and why its extension is crucial for the North Island’s post-Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts.

Roles Covered by the Recovery Visa

The Recovery Visa is for migrant workers coming to New Zealand for a short time (up to 6 months) to do a job that supports the North Island recovery from extreme weather events in January and February 2023. This support can include providing emergency response, immediate clean-up, assessing risk or loss, infrastructure, building and housing stabilisation and/or repair (including planning functions), and work that directly supports the recovery (e.g., producing relevant materials for road rebuild, transport drivers etc).

Specialist Workers Needed for the Recovery

The full picture of labour demand is still emerging, but it is clear that in the short term, New Zealand will need specialists from overseas such as engineers, technicians, and assessors to support New Zealand experts on the ground. The Recovery Visa will allow employers to sponsor migrants to come to New Zealand for a specific event or purpose, including working on an emergency response.

Limitations

The initial visa will last up to 6 months, and the $700 fee will be refunded for successful applicants. While this is helpful, it is important to note that the Recovery Visa is not available to industries providing indirect support (e.g., businesses in the affected areas facing an increased demand for services) or to backfill vacancies of people leaving roles to work on the recovery.

These employers can access labour through other visas such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which is also being considered for changes to support faster processing for identified roles that will support the recovery and rebuild.

Extension of the Recovery Visa

Given the extensive damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, it is likely that the recovery efforts will take longer than six months. This is where extending the Recovery Visa becomes crucial. Extending the visa will provide a pathway for a longer stay in New Zealand for the proposed workers and their families. This will not only benefit the recovery efforts but also the local economy. The workers will be able to contribute their skills and knowledge to the community, and their families will also be able to benefit from the country’s resources.

If you are applying for the Recovery Visa, your partner can apply for a Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa and your children can apply for Student Visas if they are of school age. It’s worth exploring family visa options to ensure that your family can stay together while you work on the recovery efforts.

The Impact of Extending the Recovery Visa

Extending the Recovery Visa will allow migrant workers to stay for a longer period, which will help ensure that the recovery efforts are completed more meaningfully. The workers will be able to complete more long-term projects that require their expertise, and they will be able to build relationships with the local community. This will also help the workers feel more secure vis-à-vis their and their family’s future, which is important for their mental health and well-being.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the Recovery Visa is crucial for the North Island’s post-Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts, it is also important for the government to consider the family interests of the migrant. This consideration can help ensure the well-being and support of the migrant workers, making them more effective in their contributions to the community and the recovery efforts.

A pathway for a longer stay in New Zealand for the proposed workers and their families can be provisioned by offering work visas to the eligible partners. It may help the recovery efforts and boost the local economy as well. Migrant workers can make significant contributions to the community, and extending the Recovery Visa can be a way to acknowledge their value and expertise. The Recovery Visa is an excellent opportunity for skilled workers to assist in the recovery efforts, and the extension of the visa can help ensure that the recovery efforts are completed more efficiently and effectively.

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