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By Lawrence Johnston

ANOTHER huge change in New Zealand migration policy comes into force in mid-December, when the new skilled migrant category is implemented.
The new category aimed at sounding the death knell to the new practice of highly qualified professionals ending up driving taxis, replaces the old general skills category, which was scrapped in July and its successor the interim general skills category.
The announcement by New Zealand Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel last month that the new category would be implemented on schedule, also gave eagerly awaited details about the skilled migrant points system.
The new category is based on allocating points for a range of factors including qualifications, but for the first time included will be bonus points for employment in identified areas of growth in New Zealand or absolute skill shortage, or within identified clusters.
From the mid December launch date, people will be able to register expressions of interest. Their expressions will be ranked according to points, with those achieving the highest points being invited to apply for residence.
"This will ensure that industries or regions experiencing skill shortages and growth will be able to have their needs met first," the Minister said.
In this way, the New Zealand Government has shifted the focus of skilled migration policy from the passive acceptance of residence applications to the active recruitment of the skills that New Zealand needs.
The new points system includes 60 points for current employment in New Zealand for 12 months or more ongoing with fifty for a job offer in New Zealand or current employment in that country of between three and 12 months.
There are also 50 or 55 points depending on the professional or trade qualifications recognised in New Zealand that the applicant has, and additional points based on the number of years relevant work experience, and other points based on the applicant's age.
There are also bonus points ranging from five to 15, for things like qualifications, the length of work experience in New Zealand, location of employment or a job offer outside Auckland, and a spouse or partner's employment situation.
Ben Stevens, a service leader with the New Zealand Immigration Service advises applicants under the new category to be accurate and realistic with the information they give that will influence their points, because they will be verified
"Generally people are pretty realistic and accurate about how many points they claim, but under the new category they'll need to be doubly focused on ensuring they claim an honest amount of points. For example, awarding themselves 30 points because they have three separate degrees is not on," he said.