Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 14 entries shown

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Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 27 Feb 2025
In force Visa & immigration

AEWV median-wage threshold raised to NZD 31.61/hour

INZ raised the AEWV median-wage threshold from NZD 29.66/hour to NZD 31.61/hour (approximately NZD 65,750/year full-time) from 27 February 2025. The median-wage basis is updated periodically as Statistics NZ wage data is refreshed. Materially changes the minimum salary required for most AEWV roles.

Who it affects: All new AEWV applications and renewals from 27 February 2025.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Green List of shortage occupations updated

INZ's Green List of shortage occupations was reviewed and updated in late 2024 — several tech and engineering occupations added to Tier 1 (Straight to Residence); some healthcare roles reclassified between tiers. The Green List is the direct-to-residence fast-track mechanism; periodic rotation reflects evolving labour-market shortages.

Who it affects: Applicants in newly-added or newly-removed Green List occupations.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Dec 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Work to Residence — Straight to Residence pathway for Tier 1 Green List continuing

Operational confirmation that the Work to Residence — Straight to Residence pathway for Tier 1 Green List occupations continues unchanged through 2025–2026. Tier 1 applicants can apply for Permanent Residence directly from overseas with a qualifying NZ job offer. Tier 2 applicants retain the 2-year Work to Residence transitional pathway.

Who it affects: Prospective applicants on the Tier 1 Green List.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Nov 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Visitor Visa extended from 9 to 12 months for qualifying nationalities

Visitor Visa maximum duration was extended from 9 months to 12 months for qualifying visa-required applicants from specific partner countries from November 2024. Does not affect visa-waiver nationalities (who receive up to 3 months on arrival). Materially improves the long-stay visitor option for parents and long-term tourists from countries like India, Philippines, China.

Who it affects: Visa-required visitors from specific partner countries.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Active Investor Plus Visa reformed with lower threshold

The Active Investor Plus Visa was reformed from September 2024 with a lowered threshold — NZD 5M under a new weighted investment-mix system, replacing the previous NZD 15M direct / NZD 50M passive thresholds. Allows more-flexible portfolio composition with weighting toward NZ-company-direct investment. Designed to revive the programme after low application volume under previous settings.

Who it affects: High-net-worth investors considering New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Aug 2024
In force Residency

Parent Category Resident Visa reopened with revised criteria

The Parent Category Resident Visa was reopened from August 2024 with revised criteria — income threshold for the NZ-based sponsor, age-based subcategories, and a modest annual quota. Had been closed to new applications since 2016; reopening restores a structural pathway for family reunification of skilled migrants' parents.

Who it affects: Parents of NZ citizens and residents seeking permanent residence.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Aug 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Working Holiday Scheme adjustments for several partner countries

Updates to the Working Holiday Scheme through 2024 — expanded age eligibility to under 35 for several additional partner countries (reciprocal agreements), modified visa caps, and small administrative simplifications. Programme remains broadly intact as a pipeline for young globally-mobile workers to experience NZ.

Who it affects: Young travellers from eligible countries considering NZ.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 7 Apr 2024
In force Labour

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.

Who it affects: AEWV holders in roles paid below specified thresholds.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Labour

AEWV employer accreditation tightened against exploitation

Following 2023 revelations of widespread AEWV employer-accreditation abuse, INZ tightened accreditation procedures from April 2024: more robust financial checks, verification of job offers, enhanced in-compliance auditing, and faster revocation of accreditation for breaches. Several high-profile employer deregistrations followed. A structural operational strengthening of the AEWV framework.

Who it affects: Employers seeking to obtain or maintain AEWV accreditation.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Mar 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Visitor Visa remote-work policy clarified — 90 days permitted

INZ clarified in early 2024 that Visitor Visa holders may work remotely for non-NZ employers or clients during the 90-day standard visa-waiver stay (or longer visitor visa) — formally acknowledging what had been tolerated in practice. New Zealand does not operate a dedicated digital-nomad visa; longer-term remote work requires AEWV or another substantive visa category.

Who it affects: Remote workers considering short-term stays in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Citizenship

Citizenship pathways unchanged — 5 years residence continues

New Zealand citizenship requirements remain 5 years of residence (at least 240 days per year physically present), character and language requirements, and knowledge of NZ and responsibilities of citizenship. No structural changes under the National-led coalition. Dual citizenship is permitted. Citizenship by descent for children born overseas is restricted to one generation outside NZ.

Who it affects: Permanent residents seeking NZ citizenship.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 27 Nov 2023
In force Residency

National-ACT-NZ First coalition government formed

The National-led coalition government (National, ACT New Zealand, NZ First) was formed on 27 November 2023 after the October 2023 general election. Coalition agreement commitments have been implemented progressively — AEWV employer-accreditation compliance focus, minimum-wage-threshold enforcement, review of several Labour-era programmes. Overall pro-skilled-migration direction maintained.

Who it affects: Broad immigration policy direction through 2024–2026.

Beehive — NZ Government releases ↗ · New Zealand Government ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 9 Oct 2023
In force Residency

Skilled Migrant Category reformed to 6-point qualification structure

SMC reformed from the legacy points-based Expression of Interest system to a simpler 6-point qualification structure in October 2023. Applicants gain points from qualifications (degree), income level (above median wage band), or professional registration — plus a skilled NZ job or job offer. Materially simpler to assess pre-application than the legacy scoring.

Who it affects: All prospective Skilled Migrant Category permanent-residence applicants.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 4 Jul 2022
In force Visa & immigration

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) launched — major consolidation

AEWV replaced the previous fragmented employer-sponsored visa categories (Essential Skills, Talent (Accredited Employer), and others) from July 2022. Three-step accreditation / job-check / applicant model. Median-wage threshold drives most qualification tests. Major operational turbulence through 2022–2024 as employers and INZ transitioned.

Who it affects: All employer-sponsored temporary-work migration.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) ↗ · Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ↗ · verified 2026-04-19