6. Question No. 6—ImmigrationERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 6—Immigration6. ERICA STANFORD (National—East Coast Bays) to the Minister of Immigration: How many nurses have applied for the Accredited Employer Work Visa and how many of those nurses applied from offshore?Hon MICHAEL WOOD (Minister of Immigration): I am advised that since the accredited employer work visa (AEWV) migrant gate opened in July 198 nurses have applied for the AEWV of whom 24 have applied from offshore. As the member will be aware the period between July and now has been one of transition between the critical purpose visa and the accredited employer work visa and so it's important to note that nurses continue to arrive under the critical purpose visa—142 were approved in May and 149 were approved in June and I understand there was a similar number in July. Through our immigration rebalance we are providing simplified ways of important groups like nurses coming to New Zealand but we're also working hard to ensure that we have a good domestic supply something that was neglected under the previous Government.Erica Stanford: Why did he say on Tuesday in question time that there is very strong interest amongst nurses" for the AEWV when today he has confirmed that only 24 new offshore nurses have applied in the first two months of the visa being open?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Because that is the information that I receive from health employers and recruiters and officials. It is worth noting that nurses are able to show interest in applying for these visas before the application process has been completed.Erica Stanford: How many new migrant nurses arriving in New Zealand every month do we need before he is satisfied that his policy of placing nurses on the two-year wait to residence is working given that he said that he will make changes to the policy if needed?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: That is something that I will continue to keep under review and consult with colleagues and the sector about. As I outlined in my primary answer we do continue to have a good number of nurses entering the workforce each month: 142 in May approved 149 in June approved. So progress is being made but we'll continue to work with the sector on it. I do note that the two-year residency pathway that we have put in place covers all 13 categories of nurses something that was not previously available. This is a simplified and more streamlined pathway than New Zealand has had previously and it's more simplified and streamlined than most other countries currently have as well.Erica Stanford: Has he seen a recent nursing organisation survey from July that found that 11 percent of the workforce has made plans to leave which equates to 6600 nurses and if so why is he not placing nurses on the fast track to residence to allow us to compete with Australia?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Taking inspiration from my colleague from the East Cape no.Hon Andrew Little: Can the Minister confirm that those who have applied for the accredited employer work visa from in-country are more likely to know that there is a two-year pathway to residency and yet still record numbers are applying for it?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Yes I can confirm that point and it does go some way towards demonstrating that the two-year pathway to residency is a highly attractive pathway for both recruiting and retaining nurses in New Zealand. I also note recent decisions that I have made to ensure that the two years can be counted from late 2021 to smooth that pathway further for nurses who are currently onshore. I think that's helping as well.Erica Stanford: Is the Minister aware that the only pathway for a nurse to gain residence at the moment is the two-year pathway to residence because he still hasn't opened the skilled migrant category so of course the numbers are going to be good?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: That is correct. The accredited employer work visa is the main pathway to residence at the moment and as the Government has confirmed we will be moving forward to consult and reopen on the skilled pathway in the coming months.Hon Andrew Little: Is the Minister aware of other steps the Government has taken to support the development of the nursing workforce and enable offshore nurses to come to New Zealand?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: Yes there is significant work that is under way there. The Government is rolling out a targeted suite of measures to both attract train and retain overseas nurses. This includes a coordinated and enhanced national and international healthcare recruitment campaign dedicated immigration support services that are put in place with Health New Zealand to support them to make it easier for health workers to move to New Zealand and finally easing the process for overseas nurses with provision up to $10000 in financial support for international nurses to cover New Zealand registration costs. These measures are making a real difference.Erica Stanford: Why are game developers given residence immediately and nurses are forced to wait two years?Hon MICHAEL WOOD: The Government made the decision to have a streamlined pathway for all 13 categories of nurses to achieve residency within two years. We believe that that is an appropriate policy it is an internationally competitive policy that is simpler than most countries and it is one that we believe will make a real difference. The member needs to remember that residency in New Zealand is something that is highly valued by people from all around New Zealand; it's not a competition between gamers and nurses. This is a policy that we have confidence will attract new nurses to New Zealand.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Point of order. Mr Speaker in your reflections on question time I wonder if you would consider whether the Minister of Health's questions to the Minister of Immigration were in keeping with Speakers' ruling 183/7 and if they are whether there will be a new Speaker's ruling around that matter.SPEAKER: Yes I will look at it. I thought the question when I heard it was in order. I probably should have said to the Hon Michael Wood to answer in so far as he had responsibility; I believe he did that. But I'll go back and have a look and I'll take note of what you've said."