The status of Temporary visa holders after Covid-19 lockdown
On March 25, 2020, the New Zealand government announced that temporary visas would be automatically extended to late September. This comes into effect from Thursday, April 2, 2020. Travellers with a temporary work, student, visitor, interim and limited, visa expiring before April 1, 2020, who are unable to leave New Zealand must apply online for a new visa. More information and the latest updates are on the official Covid-19 NZ website.
Large number without status
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More than one-in-16 people in New Zealand today – or more than 300,000 in total – is a migrant without residence status, living here on a temporary work, student or family visa. Many of those migrants fill key roles that will help us through this COVID-19 pandemic. Care workers, nurses, doctors, truck drivers, farm workers and fruit pickers are just a few examples. It is a similar story in many other countries. There are more than 2 million people on temporary visas in Australia – including 600,000 New Zealanders. For New Zealand to have its best shot at containing community spread of coronavirus, and to strengthen its case to Australia and other governments to look after New Zealanders abroad, we need to act now to look after all people in New Zealand. That means guaranteeing temporary visa holders access to health and social services for the duration of this COVID-19 crisis. It is not only the right thing to do but also the best thing that we can do for our nation’s health. It also strengthens our government’s ability to demand better care for the approximately 1 million New Zealanders living, studying or working overseas. Closing borders minimises the risk of transmission and protects national populations, as Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters made clear in his call for travelling New Zealand citizens and residents to return home.
Border closure effect
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But it is also true that border closures now in force across our region and around the world have left millions of migrants working or studying abroad stranded away from home, with unequal or uncertain access to health care and other critical services. These border restrictions will halt migration flows in unprecedented ways. Globally, between 2010 and 2019 an additional 51 million people became international migrants. To respond effectively to COVID-19, governments worldwide need to seriously consider the migrants in their midst. New Zealand is no exception. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 303,453 people were living in New Zealand on temporary work, student or family visas at the end of February 2020. This represents about 6% of the resident population. Ten years ago, only 155,931 people were on temporary visas.
Limited rights
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Most countries, including New Zealand, either delay and restrict access to citizenship for migrants, or do not offer it at all. This means a large proportion of these people have relatively limited rights. Temporary visa holders in New Zealand have no certainty about their right to remain. Their access to key public services such as health care is often limited.
Lessons from elsewhere
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Border closures present the New Zealand government with several immediate migration-related challenges, including (a) many people on temporary work visas do not have automatic rights to health care, including all workers who receive work visas less than two years in length and their families, as well as all students and working holiday visa holders, and while some may have health insurance, many policies will not cover treatment for COVID-19 (b) during the course of the New Zealand border closure, and those implemented in other countries, the visas of many of these people may expire, creating problematic legal situations (c) some people on temporary visas, especially those who do not have friends and family in New Zealand or have arrived recently, may have little access to information about COVID-19 or understand how New Zealand government agencies work. (d) Some countries are actively responding to the issue of health access.
Providing health services
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In Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health says all uninsured people will have access to screening and treatment. Singapore has waived fees for testing and hospital bills for all non-citizen residents and long-term visa holders.
In New Zealand, the government is considering being more flexible with work visas on a case-by-case basis. The government has also made it clear employers of migrant workers are entitled to wage subsidies under the economic response package. This is a good sign but it remains unclear how a case-by-case approach can address the size of the temporary migrant population and their very different circumstances.
Migrants in limbo
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In the next six months, the visas of 40,948 migrant workers and 33,441 international students will expire. Visa expiry will leave these migrants in limbo, and that’s without taking into account the impact of COVID-19 on jobs.
For essential skills work visa holders (59,232 people in New Zealand, as of February 2020) and their partners (34,335 people) and children (25,314), the loss of a job for any reason entails the cancellation of a visa if a new position can’t be found. The length of time a person has been in New Zealand or the demand for their skills are not relevant to such decisions. Seasonal work visa holders (8802), mostly from the Pacific, are on seven-month visas with no rights to extend or apply for other visas. Post-study work visa holders (31,437) have more flexibility seeking employment but have often spent significant money on education and living costs over many years. They need a job to be eligible to apply for a residence visa.
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Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.7% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.3% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Meri Kirihimete:----- Here's wishing all Christians a very MERRY CHRISTMAS
Wishing you a Christmas filled with light, laughter, and the kind of friendly conversation that makes our neighborhood feel welcoming, connected, and full of goodwill all season long.
May your festive season be peaceful, joyful, and rich with shared smiles, thoughtful gestures, and moments that remind us why community and connection matter so much.
Sending heartfelt greetings that celebrate the warmth of our neighborhood, encouraging shared laughter, cooperative spirit, and the joy of being part of a caring community.
Wishing you a Christmas where every door opened brings laughter, every conversation inspires friendship, and every small act of kindness reflects the true meaning of the season.
May this holiday season fill our neighborhood with light, love, and harmony, creating memories that bring everyone closer and strengthen bonds that last well beyond the festive period.
Sending greetings that reflect gratitude for your presence, friendship, and the support you offer, making our corner of New Zealand feel like home during Christmas.
Wishing you a festive season full of community celebrations, cheerful greetings, and shared moments that strengthen the connection we enjoy as neighbors.
May our streets be brighter with laughter, our gardens warmer with friendship, and our gatherings filled with memorable festive moments that bring joy to every household.
Sending heartfelt wishes that even in the busiest moments, we pause to appreciate one another, fostering goodwill, understanding, and a sense of shared joy during the holidays.
Wishing you Christmas mornings full of cheerful greetings, afternoons filled with kind interactions, and evenings that reflect the harmony and warmth of our neighborhood
May the spirit of Christmas inspire generosity, smiles, and memorable connections that remind us of the true value of community and companionship.
Sending you long, thoughtful messages of gratitude and goodwill, wishing every festive activity brings happiness and shared enjoyment.
Wishing for moments of neighborly cooperation, laughter, and support that enhance our holiday celebrations and create lasting festive memories.
May this season bring a sense of belonging, connection, and appreciation for every individual who contributes to the vibrancy and warmth of our neighborhood.
Sending wishes for shared joy, memorable interactions, and meaningful moments that make our community stronger and more cheerful this Christmas.
Wishing you celebrations where everyone feels valued, appreciated, and included, reflecting the essence of kindness and togetherness this festive season.
May our neighborhood be a space of warmth, smiles, and shared experiences that elevate the Christmas spirit for everyone living here.
Sending greetings that celebrate friendship, community spirit, and thoughtful gestures, leaving lasting impressions on every neighbor we encounter.
Wishing you holidays where communication, kindness, and shared laughter make our community stronger and more connected than ever.
May every Christmas greeting, conversation, and shared moment enrich our neighborhood, fostering joy, trust, and long-lasting relationships.
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Christmas Eve busiest shopping day of the year with more than 500,000 sales
Busiest shopping day of the year
Peak time 12 noon-1 pm - 563,303 transactions
Per second peak - 167 transactions
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Number of sales beats Black Friday, but lowest Christmas Eve in six years
Christmas Eve has been the busiest shopping day of the year with 9,745 sales a minute at its peak.
Payments company Worldline says noon to 1pm saw 563,303 sales recorded on its network, down by about 7 percent on a year ago.
The company's network covers about three-quarters of the electronic terminals in operation.
Worldline did not have a dollar value for spending, but the peak number of transactions was the lowest for the past six years and well shy of the record 679,436 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Earlier this month it noted rising sales in the first three weeks of the month, but they remained 1.3 percent lower than 2024, with most parts of the country trailing the previous year's spending.
Official data from Stats NZ to the end of November showed a small rise in spending on the previous month, to 1.6 percent higher for the year.
Retail spending has been subdued as households have remained cautious because of high prices and a slow benefit from lower interest rates, and as well as concerns about the soft labour market.
However, recent surveys have shown improving consumer sentiment with ANZ bank's monthly report showing confidence at its highest level in four years.
Boxing Day is traditionally the country's favourite shopping day, but with Black Friday spending also softer this year the amount going through retailers' terminals may also be down on a year ago.
Adding a dampener to consumer spending may be the recent rises in longer term fixed mortgage rates because of higher wholesale rates.
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