September 2013 News Archive
Archived Daily FX News from the TorFX Foreign Exchange Specialists...
Referendum on whether to change the NZ flag to be held24 Sep at 6 AMNewly re-elected New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has said he could hold a referendum next year on whether to change the country’s flag. The Prime Minister-elect decided not to call a vote on whether to ditch the Union Jack ahead of last weekend’s election. In a radio interview Mr Key said he would like the process to take place at...
Improved NZ student visa application service to be introduced19 Sep at 8 AMNew Zealand’s immigration authority has announced plans to introduce a new visa application process for students in the New Year. The scheme will make it easier for students from around the globe to apply for permission to study in the country. The E-visa scheme will mean application and payment for student visas can be made online,...
Immigration NZ accuses Chinese couple of child trafficking 10 Sep at 6 AMA tribunal in New Zealand has ruled that a Chinese couple attempting to bring a baby into the country on forged papers in order to gain residency is child trafficking. Immigration New Zealand denied entry to the husband in 2012 after it was discovered the baby’s birth certificate and other documents had been forged. The unnamed man had...
Kiwi immigration advisor guide introduced5 Sep at 7 AMNew Zealand is producing a guide for those looking to make a new home in the country. The booklet focuses on the importance of would-be immigrants contacting a licensed immigration advisor following reports of fraud by companies that do not have official approval. The Guide to Licensed Immigration Advisors will be printed in a number of...
New Zealand immigration figures continue to rise24 Sep at 9 AMLast month’s net migration statistics for New Zealand show that the figure has been rising throughout 2013. The reasons for this include a greater number of people migrating into the country from overseas and fewer Kiwis deciding to move to Australia. It seems that Australia has become less attractive as the high salaries and job prospects...
New Zealand property prices on the rise17 Sep at 9 AMProperty prices across New Zealand have gone up by around $5,000 according to a recent report. The price rise, recorded in August, means the median price of a property in the country has risen to $390,000 and very close to the record high recorded in March. However, even though national prices appear to be on the increase, there are...
Kiwi immigrants should be welcomed to Britain10 Sep at 9 AMImmigrants from Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand and Australia should be welcomed to the UK in the same way as visitors from other European countries according to London Mayor Boris Johnson. The request for a change to the immigration rules has been welcomed by New Zealanders already in the UK. Editor of popular London-based...
Gay Thai couples have difficulty obtaining NZ visas2 Sep at 9 AMTwo Thai couples attempting to take advantage of New Zealand’s same-sex marriage laws have complained about how difficult the process of obtaining a visa has been. Both couples are younger Thai men marrying older Americans, something that appears to have made the Kiwi authorities suspicious. According to a report in the New Zealand...
New Zealand?s GCSB accused of unlawful spying on millionaire 28 Sep at 6 PMNew Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key has been forced to apologise to millionaire Kim Dotcom for illegal surveillance carried out by the government’s spy agency. The scandal broke 10 days ago when Key was made aware of the Government Communications Security Bureau’s surveillance of Dotcom prior to a police raid on the...
Immigration New Zealand border control officers given new powers26 Sep at 6 PMA recent announcement by immigration New Zealand has confirmed that border compliance officers now have new powers to search and detain. According to New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Nathan Guy, the new powers will be used if officers suspect an arriving passenger is attempting to enter illegally. Included in the new rules is...
Parkway welcomes Immigration New Zealand border services improvements 24 Sep at 6 PMNew Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, Immigration New Zealand and NZ Customs have agreed on further improvements to border services at Auckland Airport. The airport’s general manager for aeronautical operations, Judy Nicholl, told reporters she was more than pleased with the announcement, describing the agreement as a welcome...
2011 to 2012 worst year for Kiwi migration to Oz21 Sep at 6 PMNew Zealand government figures released today show more New Zealanders than ever before leaving for Australia between August 2011 and August this year. Statistics New Zealand’s report showed 53,900 Kiwis decided to try their luck in Australia over the 12-month period, with only 13,900 moving from Oz to New Zealand. The differential...
Mike Tyson gets a special direction for his Auckland trip19 Sep at 6 PMFormer heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson may be coming to Auckland now that Immigration New Zealand has granted him a special direction, allowing him to apply for a visitor’s visa. The special direction visa allows an exception to a person not otherwise eligible for a visa, and may allow Tyson to give his motivational talk as...
New Zealand SME owners complain over immigration policy17 Sep at 6 PMSmall business owners in New Zealand are up in arms over Immigration New Zealand’s immigration policies, saying the skills shortage is the fault of INZ’s policies. According to report on stuff.co.nz, inconsistent visa processing, a lack of industry-specific training for immigration officers and a lack of integration between industry...
NZ border security loophole exposed by investigation14 Sep at 6 PMAn investigation involving an illegal immigrant who travelled to and from New Zealand with false passports has exposed an embarrassing loophole in New Zealand’s border security. Cristian Dario Alcade was living in the country as a New Zealand resident due to his status as an Australian citizen until Australian authorities discovered he...
Burger King employs migrant workers to train as managers 12 Sep at 6 PMAlmost 25 per cent of the 641 migrant workers employed by the New Zealand arm of fast-food giant Burger King over the last five years have been trained as managers. Information obtained by the New Zealand Green Party confirms that 146 of the 641 migrants entered the country under the essential skills work visa category, and were sponsored...
Airline fined for not ensuring NZ bound passengers cleared10 Sep at 6 PMA South American carrier that allowed three passengers to board flights to New Zealand without first receiving their Immigration New Zealand (INZ) clearance has been fined NZ$18,000. Aerolinas Argentinas was charged at Manukau District Court under the 2009 Immigration Act. The airline pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined NZ$6,000...
UK workers top list of constructors heading for Christchurch 10 Sep at 6 PMBrits with experience in the construction industry are flocking to New Zealand to work on the rebuild of Christchurch after the two devastating earthquakes destroyed most of the city centre. Britain, the Philippines and Ireland are topping the list of countries providing labour to reconstruct New Zealand’s South Island capital. The UK...
NZ Immigration officers given new powers to protect borders 5 Sep at 6 PMNew Zealand immigration officers have been given a new set of powers which will reduce their dependence on police and other agencies. Immigration Minister Nathan Guy announced that compliance officers will now be able to conduct searches at border posts and detain those awaiting deportation for at least a limited time. They can also obtain...
New Zealand Immigration Minister outlines new policy3 Sep at 6 PMMinister of Immigration Nathan Guy, in his speech given 31 August, laid out in detail the country’s immigration policies. The speech, given to the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment, emphasised that New Zealand welcomed temporary workers, immigrants and students and stressed the importance of correctly managed...