Transport sector agreement finalised and Green List changes confirmed | Immigration New Zealand

Published on 28/04/2023

Transport sector agreement finalised and Green List changes confirmed

The Minister of Immigration and Transport finalises the transport sector agreement and adds occupations to the Green List.

26 April 2023

7 minute read

The Minister of Immigration and Transport has confirmed further details of the transport sector agreement and occupations to be added to the Green List.


Transport sector agreement details confirmed

In December 2022, the Minister of Immigration and Transport announced a transport sector agreement with a 2-year work to residence pathway for truck and bus drivers, and later announced that this would be extended to include critical maritime transport roles. This was intended to support critical national infrastructure (public transport, waste collection and supply chains) as the industries work towards improved pay and conditions and increased training of New Zealanders.

Median wage exemption for bus drivers

Employers will have a median wage exemption set at $28 an hour when hiring bus drivers for an eligible role on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. This exemption takes effect immediately.

To be eligible for the exemption, the role must either:

  • be for an employer who has signed the All Parties Memorandum of Understanding on Improving Bus Driver Pay and Conditions, or
  • be as a school bus driver on a Ministry of Education-funded school bus service.

This is intended to focus the sector agreement on our most critical public transport needs, while requiring that operators are committed to improving pay and conditions.

Bus drivers hired under the sector agreement will be eligible for Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) for 3 years, despite being paid below the median wage. This will ensure that they have enough time to complete their 2 years of work in New Zealand required to apply for residence.

Other roles covered by the transport sector agreement are not exempt from the median wage threshold, as the market rate for skilled workers in these roles is already above the median wage.

AEWV roles exempt from paying the median wage


Transport sector agreement residence applications open later this year

Under the sector agreement the following professions will have a 2-year work to residence pathway:

  • bus drivers working for an eligible employer in an eligible role (as set out above)
  • truck drivers primarily driving vehicles that require a class 4 or 5 licence
  • ship’s masters (skippers) — must hold Skipper Restricted Limits for 500GT endorsement, or higher qualification by the time they apply for residence
  • deck hands — must hold Qualified Deck Crew or higher qualification by the time they apply for residence

All roles covered by the sector agreement will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have completed the 2 years of work requirement.


Duration of transport sector agreement

The agreement is uncapped and will be reviewed after 12 months. Any changes made to the sector agreement after this review will not affect migrants already on their 2-year work to residence pathway.


Further roles confirmed for Green List

In December 2022, the Minister of Immigration announced several roles across different sectors would be added to the Green List work to residence pathway to help further address labour shortages and provide greater certainty to businesses as they recover from the pandemic.

The profession that will be added to the ‘Straight to Residence’ Green List pathway on 29 May 2023:


OccupationGreen List RequirementsAuditor


  • External Auditor (221213)
  • Internal Auditor (221214)

Median wage plus 30 percent (1.3 x median wage)

Currently $38.56 per hour, or $80,200 per annum

The following roles, as well as the requirements each must meet, will be added to the ‘Work to Residence’ Green List pathway on 29 May 2023:


OccupationGreen List RequirementsCivil Construction Supervisors


  • Building Associate (312112) – Common example job titles for this role are site supervise, site manager, site foreman, build supervisor, build manager and civil project manager

Remuneration for the employment must be NZD $44.49 per hour or above (median plus 50%), or the equivalent annual salary (NZD $92,540 per annum)

Gasfitters (334114)

 

Registration as either a certifying, tradesman, or journeyman gasfitter with the New Zealand Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (12 months on a provisional licence will be accepted toward the overall 24 months duration and for AEWV purposes provided registration is complete on application for the residence visa)

Drainlayers (334113)

Registration as either a certifying, tradesman, or journeyman drainlayer with the New Zealand Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (12 months on a provisional licence will be accepted toward the overall 24 months duration and for AEWV purposes provided registration is complete on application for the residence visa)

Skilled crane operators


  • Crane, Hoist or Lifter Operator (712111)

Role offered must be as a crane operator only. Remuneration for the employment must be $38.56 per hour or above (median plus 30%), or the equivalent annual salary ($80,200 per annum).

The applicant must have a New Zealand Level 3 Certificate in Cranes with at least one Level 4 specialisation (or overseas equivalent) at the time of application for residence. 

Skilled civil machine operators


  • Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) (721211)
  • Backhoe Operator (721212)
  • Bulldozer Operator (721213)
  • Excavator Operator (721214)
  • Grader Operator (721215)
  • Loader Operator (721216)

Remuneration for the employment must be $34.11 per hour or above (median plus 15%), or the equivalent annual salary ($70,947 per annum)

Halal slaughterers


  • Slaughterer (831212)

Role offered must be as a halal slaughter, and with an employer and at a site listed on the ‘New Zealand approved animal products halal premises (excluding dairy) under the Animal Products Notice’ (administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries)

Skilled motor mechanics


  • Motor mechanic – General (321211)
  • Motorcycle mechanic (321213)

One of the following qualifications (or higher):


  • New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (Level 4)
  • New Zealand Certificate in Light Automotive Engineering (Level 4)
  • New Zealand Certificate in Motorcycle Engineering (Level 4); or
  • Appointment as a vehicle inspector by Waka Kotahi for warrant of fitness service delivery

Skilled telecommunications technicians


  • Telecommunications Technician (342414)

One of the following:


  • New Zealand Certificate in Telecommunications (Level 3) at the time of application for residence (overseas equivalents will not be accepted for this qualification)
  • Remuneration for the employment for the 24 month period prior to application must be at or above $34.11 per hour (median plus 15%), or the equivalent annual salary ($70,947 per annum)

Teachers:


  • School Principal (134311)
  • Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Teacher (241211)
  • Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori – Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher (241212)
  • Primary School Teacher (241213)
  • Middle School Teacher / Intermediate School Teacher (241311)
  • Secondary School Teachers (241411) - all specialisations
  • Special Needs Teacher (241511)
  • Teacher of the Hearing Impaired (241512)
  • Teacher of the Sight Impaired (241513)
  • Special Education Teachers nec (241599)
  • Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (249311) - if working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school

NZ registration with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand

AND

A provisional practising certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand

Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages must be working in a primary, intermediate or secondary school

When these roles are added to the Green List on 29 May 2023, employers will not be required to show evidence of advertising when they submit a job check, and migrants working in these roles will be eligible to sponsor a partner on an open work visa. Immigration instructions are expected to be published in mid-May.

Eligible migrant workers will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have worked in a Green List occupation and met the specified requirements of that occupation for 24 months.

Updates to the Green List will be made on 29 May 2023.