Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Thank you for being here tonight as I outline the government’s planning to improve New Zealand’s immigration system so it works for New Zealand. Unfortunately, my colleague, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi isn’t well enough to join us.
I would like to take the opportunity to outline the government’s planning to improve New Zealand’s immigration system and ensure it delivers better outcomes for our communities and economy.
COVID-19 has presented enormous challenges – disrupting travel, trade, and family ties. I want to acknowledge that from the start.
But it presents once-in-a-generation opportunity to change some of the shortcomings in the way we’ve been doing things, and that includes the way we manage immigration.