AEWV median-wage role holders limited to 3-year continuous stay then 12-month stand-down

From April 2024, AEWV holders in roles paid below a specific higher wage threshold are limited to a maximum 3-year continuous stay before a mandatory 12-month stand-down period out of New Zealand. Roles paid above the threshold (approximately 1.3× median wage) are not subject to the stand-down. Designed to prevent indefinite low-wage temporary-migrant pipelines.