‘On the edge’: Are New Zealand’s tough immigration rules harming the economy?

Critics say failing to allow family members to join skilled workers will undermine post-pandemic recovery

In February 2020, Craig Hurn, 53, temporarily left his wife and daughter in Cape Town to scope out the job market in New Zealand. After beating six other candidates for one job, he secured an essential skills visa and began preparing to move his family over.

We saw Craig's CV and we thought, Oh my God, he can walk into the job,'" says his employer, who struggled to find any workers with the highly specialised qualifications to fill the position.