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The Government has eased visa rules to allow businesses to make greater use of immigrant labour during Alert Levels 3 and 4. The changes mean some immigrants can start new jobs. Until now, only health, supermarket and aged care workers had been allowed to change their roles or hours. Employers and … View moreThe Government has eased visa rules to allow businesses to make greater use of immigrant labour during Alert Levels 3 and 4. The changes mean some immigrants can start new jobs. Until now, only health, supermarket and aged care workers had been allowed to change their roles or hours. Employers and immigrants have been told that has now been extended to other essential sectors, which according to the Covid-19 website include utilities, education, financial services, construction and accommodation providers.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said the changes that could be requested include:
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-Any staff who are student visa holders to work full time for that employer
-Any staff who are employer-specific work visa holders to work for that same employer in any occupation
-Any staff who are work visa holders to work for a different employer in the same region in the same occupation as they are currently employed.
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The changes will be allowed to extend up to six weeks after the country moves to Alert Level 2. "The short timeframe will enable employers in essential industries to maintain their labour pool as hiring would be very difficult while New Zealand remains at Alert Level 3 or 4," said INZ. "This means that the ability of employers to move migrant workers between roles, or employ them for more than would normally be allowed will end when recruitment of New Zealanders becomes possible under fewer restrictions on recruitment and movement of New Zealanders." It went on to spell out the help immigrants in financial hardship can access, including emergency accommodation and supplies. "Currently our advice to people who are here from overseas, who are not currently employed, and are experiencing financial difficulty during Covid-19 Alert Level 4 is to talk to their Embassy or Consulate for assistance," said an INZ email to stakeholders. "This includes workers here on a Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, working holiday, short-term visa, students and tourists. "If you are unable to secure self-isolation accommodation, some limited assistance can be provided to find accommodation to self-isolate by contacting the Temporary Accommodation Service (TAS) to register on 0508 754 163. "In extreme cases where you cannot obtain essential supplies during phase 4, contact can be made with the local Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups (0800 numbers on their website) here." Meanwhile, INZ said it had limited visa processing capability but was now in a position to start processing some other visa categories. They included student visas, post-study work visas, victims of domestic violence and partnership visas. "Due to Immigration New Zealand's limited visa processing capacity, the assessment of these applications or requests may take longer than usual," it said in a statement. On its website it said it would only usually be processing applications on that list, except ones related to the Covid-19 response. ''But immigration officers will retain the discretion to prioritise other applications where the circumstances of the application require particular urgency," it said. ''INZ is focusing on processing applications that are a priority and can be processed within the current operational constraints. ''We appreciate this will be disappointing news for those people affected, but we are continuing to review our priorities and are hopeful we will be able to process more visa types in the near future.''
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This is Lulu from Mount Eden in Auckland, who has gone from having almost no-one home at the same time to having seven flatmates home almost all the time and this is how she feels about it...
Who are your bubble pets? Share your photos of your pets in the comments below - whether it’s helping … View moreThis is Lulu from Mount Eden in Auckland, who has gone from having almost no-one home at the same time to having seven flatmates home almost all the time and this is how she feels about it...
Who are your bubble pets? Share your photos of your pets in the comments below - whether it’s helping you work from home, on a local neighbourhood walk getting some exercise, or any cute, fun, and funny photos!
Up to 20 residents from an Auckland rest home linked to a Covid-19 cluster are being transferred to…
Auckland is essentially under water restrictions for the first time since the early 1990s as the region's storage dams drop below 50 per cent amid a severe drought.
Watercare's advice to Aucklanders
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• Keep washing your hands regularly
• Keep your … View moreAuckland is essentially under water restrictions for the first time since the early 1990s as the region's storage dams drop below 50 per cent amid a severe drought.
Watercare's advice to Aucklanders
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• Keep washing your hands regularly
• Keep your showers short: 4 minutes or less
• Only run your dishwasher or washing machine when they're full
• Don't wash the car
• Don't waterblast the house or driveway
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Dear Neighbours,
Please feel free to download these beautiful inspirational posters for your home, work place or community space.
More can be found on this page ....
www.meditationauckland.co.nz...
Corona and Heineken beer, Jim Beam bourbon, Smirnoff vodka and Bombay Sapphire gin are among the mos…
In hospitality, the biggest change is the drive for professionalism which includes better business knowledge and respect for these career pathways. While our sector has taken a big knock now, we know from the earthquake experience, that people will soon want to eat out again. Celia Hay, founder of … View moreIn hospitality, the biggest change is the drive for professionalism which includes better business knowledge and respect for these career pathways. While our sector has taken a big knock now, we know from the earthquake experience, that people will soon want to eat out again. Celia Hay, founder of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine, reflects on her hospitality career journey and ways to cope with curious times.
Hi Neighbours!
The Office for Seniors is working hard to keep you informed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our most recent COVID-19 special edition Newsletter includes phone numbers for all regional civil defence teams, they can help you if you are struggling to access your supermarket … View moreHi Neighbours!
The Office for Seniors is working hard to keep you informed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our most recent COVID-19 special edition Newsletter includes phone numbers for all regional civil defence teams, they can help you if you are struggling to access your supermarket essentials.
It also includes details on COVID-19 related scams and what to look out for to stay safe.
Read the newsletter here: bit.ly...
A world surfing event in Auckland that was postponed because of the coronvirus outbreak has official…
In this week's issue we say Asian greens are quick and easy for impatient gardeners. Plus check out shrubs to grow from hardwood cuttings, go on an autumn pest patrol, tidy up the vege patch, save nuts from rats and get ready for bad weather.
Read about growing herbs from cuttings and seeds. … View moreIn this week's issue we say Asian greens are quick and easy for impatient gardeners. Plus check out shrubs to grow from hardwood cuttings, go on an autumn pest patrol, tidy up the vege patch, save nuts from rats and get ready for bad weather.
Read about growing herbs from cuttings and seeds. We also have some great prizes up for grabs, including Thrive Citrus Plant Food from Yates and Green Feed seed packs from Burnet’s.
Delivered every Friday to your email inbox, Get Growing digital magazine offers seasonal gardening advice from the NZ Gardener magazine's team of experts. Each week we answer all your burning questions on raising fruit and veges and tell you the top tasks to do in your backyard this weekend. Subscribe here:
Refresh an old fashioned mail tray with a modern new look using the Resene Whites and Neutrals range.
Reinvent it as a magazine holder, spice rack or use it to hold your favourite cookbooks. Paint the front panel in Resene FX Blackboard Paint and use it as a handy writing space.
Make the most … View moreRefresh an old fashioned mail tray with a modern new look using the Resene Whites and Neutrals range.
Reinvent it as a magazine holder, spice rack or use it to hold your favourite cookbooks. Paint the front panel in Resene FX Blackboard Paint and use it as a handy writing space.
Make the most of this weekend with this easy step by step project idea from Resene.
Find out how to create your own Make the most of this weekend with this easy step by step project idea from Resene.
You might be using more wet wipes to keep your home clean, but it’s very important not to flush them afterwards.
They block up the pipes, which then need fixing immediately. When workers have to leave home to fix blocked pipes, they’re at risk of COVID-19. That puts everyone else in their … View moreYou might be using more wet wipes to keep your home clean, but it’s very important not to flush them afterwards.
They block up the pipes, which then need fixing immediately. When workers have to leave home to fix blocked pipes, they’re at risk of COVID-19. That puts everyone else in their bubble at risk as well.
Do your bit for workers and their whānau, and put your wet wipes in the bin.
A lot of kids will have turned five during the lockdown and may have missed out on the transitional visits because of school closures.
Firefighters battled a blaze at a home in West Auckland. Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) received seve…
We've created something so you get a Museum surprise every time you open up your Chrome browser.
Have a new item pop up from our vast collection of objects every time you open up a new window with our Chrome extension. There are beautiful landscapes like this one, toy cars, vintage soaps, … View moreWe've created something so you get a Museum surprise every time you open up your Chrome browser.
Have a new item pop up from our vast collection of objects every time you open up a new window with our Chrome extension. There are beautiful landscapes like this one, toy cars, vintage soaps, exquisite vases, weird and wonderful animals, jewellery, ancient swords, botanical illustrations. You get something new every time!
While you can't visit our Musuem in the flesh right now, there's plenty of ways you can see the items we hold inside the Museum, online. To add the extension to your browser, and for more ways to explore our collections, visit:
www.aucklandmuseum.com...
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