New Zealand will make temporary changes to its immigration rules to attract 12,000 workers over the next year to fill labour market gaps, reports Morningstar, citing Immigration minister Michael Wood. Overseas workers will work under a heightened holiday visa scheme to plug vacancies as businesses scramble to find staff. Wood said the measures “are about providing immediate relief to those businesses hardest hit by the global worker shortage” and that the new holiday scheme rules aim at a doubling of intake.

Other steps include a relaxation of wage rules for skilled migrants in sectors such as care, construction, meat processing, seafood and tourism. The visas of some current “holidaymakers” will also be extended by six months to retain foreign workers. The programme allows people to enter in New Zealand and work for up to 12 months or, if they are from countries such as UK or Canada, for longer in exceptional circumstances.