Latest news with #GreenList
NZ Autocar
4 days ago
- Business
- NZ Autocar
MTA applauds fast-track residency pathways for sought-after workers
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) welcomes the Government's decision to restore fast-track residency pathways for panel beaters and vehicle painters. From August 18, ten new trades occupations will be added to the Green List's Work to Residence pathway. This allows eligible migrants in those roles to apply for residence after two years of working in New Zealand for an accredited employer. The move aims to ease labour shortages in manufacturing and trades. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the changes will boost the economy and productivity. We know how important skilled workers are to the resilience of the manufacturing sector. 'These changes will help bring in the talent we need to keep things moving,' Stanford said. The new occupations include panel beaters, vehicle painters, welders, fitters, and paving plant operators. MTA head of advocacy, James McDowall, says the decision shows that the government has listened to the sector's concerns. He said that while it's overdue, it's good news. 'Collision repair has been affected by a shortage of skilled workers for several years. 'Skilled, hard-working immigrant workers have much to offer in addressing the shortfall and contributing to the community and industry,' McDowall says. The Government's decision reverses an earlier move by the National-led administration to remove the roles from the Green List. This they did after the previous Labour Government added them before leaving office. 'That was short-sighted, but we argued hard for the change. The Collision Repair Association (CRA) also applauded the announcement, with general manager Stewart Gibb describing it as a 'constructive step.' McDowall noted the skills gap extends beyond the panel and paint sector. Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says the manufacturing sector contributes $21.8 billion to the economy annually. However, he said that staffing pressures have persisted. 'I'm hearing from manufacturers that some roles crucial to day-to-day operations are still proving difficult to fill. 'We know these skill shortages must be addressed to support the sector's recovery. Bringing in overseas talent will help lift productivity. Stanford added: 'We're committed to building the skilled workforce New Zealand needs to thrive, and there are more changes ahead to strengthen our skilled residence settings.'
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Immigration Changes A Win For Productivity And Workforce Development
The expansion of the Work to Residence immigration pathway to include more skilled tradespeople reflects the real needs of businesses, says the EMA. From 18 August, 10 trades occupations, including welders, fitters, metal fabricators, panel beaters and paving plant operators, will be added to the Green List's Work to Residence pathway. EMA Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Lead Joanna Hall says the announcement acknowledges what businesses have long been expressing. "These are roles that our members have been struggling to fill for some time," she says. "The EMA has been pushing hard for greater recognition of these skilled trades roles in our immigration settings. "These aren't just labour shortages, these are productivity chokepoints." The policy change supports the government's effort to better balance the immigration system, which has traditionally favoured tertiary-qualified applicants. "Immigration Minister Erica Stanford's comments around ensuring the system better reflects a broader set of valuable skills - not just those tied to a university degree - is a positive step in the right direction," says Hall. "Skilled trades are essential to New Zealand's manufacturing, construction and infrastructure sectors. These businesses make up the bulk of our membership, so we're well aware of the struggles they have faced in filling key roles. "Migrants help lift productivity and pass on knowledge that strengthens the local workforce." The new Work to Residence eligibility criteria require applicants to have two years of relevant experience in New Zealand and meet health, character, and wage thresholds. Hourly wage thresholds range from $38.59 to $43.63 depending on the role, with annual salaries between $80,267 and $90,750 based on a 40-hour week. However, Hall says some of these thresholds may be out of sync with real market conditions. "While we support mechanisms that uphold quality, the wage thresholds do seem high for certain roles and could limit access if they aren't aligned with industry rates. "We urge Immigration NZ to ensure these thresholds are grounded in reality. "In addition, it's important that the value of these trades is recognised not only in the Green List but also in the Skilled Migrant Category." The EMA continues to support balanced and evidence-based immigration policy that reflects workforce realities and helps New Zealand businesses grow.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Pay parity policy shift leaves ECE graduates facing uncertain future
Photo: 123RF Recent migrant graduates with a master's degree or graduate diploma in early childhood education in New Zealand have expressed dismay over the government's sudden change to pay equity laws . The legislation passed in May made it harder to make a case for workers in professions dominated by women to have their pay increased in line with equivalent jobs done by men. The education sector had been hit hard by the change. From 1 July, newly qualified teachers could be placed on the lowest salary step regardless of prior qualifications and experience. The government also introduced a two-year moratorium to prevent services moving from a lower-paid to higher-paid tier of the graduated parity system. For migrant educators, the policy shift felt like a door had been abruptly slammed shut on their hopes of immigrating to New Zealand, as it became increasingly difficult to secure roles that meet the wage threshold required for residency. According to Immigration New Zealand, registered early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers are listed on the Green List Tier 2 in-demand occupation . Eligible teachers can apply for a Work to Residence visa after completing 24 months of employment with an accredited employer. However, they must earn at least the median wage, currently set at $31.61 per hour for early childhood educators, to qualify. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Lily Liu, a former local government employee in China, graduated in May from Auckland's ICL Graduate Business School with a graduate diploma in early childhood education. Liu's goal was to secure a full-time position at an early childhood center that paid the median wage - but finding such a role had been difficult. "I've applied for nearly 100 jobs since finishing my internship at the end of March," Liu said. "But I haven't heard back - not even a rejection letter." After realizing how tight the job market was, Liu expanded her search to early childhood centers outside Auckland. "Two small centers said they were interested [in hiring me]," she said. "But they could only offer entry-level salaries for new graduates." Liu said the policy change had impacted her chances of securing residency. "After the new policy was announced, I received a response from a center in Hastings saying I was not the most suitable candidate for the role," she said. "I think it was because of the salary," she said. "I asked for the median wage, but they could only offer me the Stage 3 rate [on the parity scale], which is around $29.78 per hour." She believed the change could make the early childhood education pathway less attractive to migrant teachers. "If I hadn't already come here, I would have considered going to another country," she said. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Rose Zhang, who is currently studying early childhood education at ICL Graduate Business School, shared the same concerns. With decades of experience as an English teacher at several well-known language schools in China and a master's degree in education, Zhang had hoped her background would be recognized. However, her prior teaching experience and advanced qualifications might not be considered when ECE centers determined the starting salary step for newly certified teachers or those new to the early childhood sector from 1 July. Set to graduate this July, Zhang was not optimistic about her prospects. "I just finished my internship recently," she said. "I asked the manager at the early childhood center where I interned, and the manager said ECE centers are no longer willing to offer newly graduated teachers the median wage." "Our teacher also told us in class that it's very hard to reach the median wage within the next two years, especially for students hoping to apply for residency through the Green List immigration pathway," Zhang said. "The teacher even said we could consider going to Australia if opportunities here remain limited," she said. Zhang said the lower salary rates could dampen teachers' enthusiasm for the work. "Even though we often say that teachers nurture the next generation with great love, we still have to make a living," she said. "In the long run, lower salaries will definitely affect teachers' motivation - and that will inevitably impact the energy and care they're able to give children." Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand, which represents hundreds of early childhood education center owners and managers, said the country had a system that valued both experience and qualifications through an 11-step salary scale for ECE teachers. Recognized service acknowledged work experience within the ECE sector, with each year of service counting as one step. For those transitioning from roles outside the ECE sector, previous relevant experience allowed related experience to count as half a step, up to a maximum of two steps. A teacher's qualifications also played a role in determining their starting point on the scale. However, employers would have full discretion to determine the starting salary step for newly certificated teachers or those new to New Zealand's early childhood education sector from 1 July. Recognition of previous ECE experience, relevant work history or higher qualifications would no longer be required and would be left entirely to the employer's judgment. Kathy Wolfe, chief executive of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand Photo: Supplied Kathy Wolfe, chief executive of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand, said early childhood education centers across the country had mixed feelings about the changes. While some employers might still choose to value teachers' prior experience and qualifications and pay accordingly, Wolfe said they could face financial constraints in doing so. "Because of the underfunding from the government, we didn't get a lot in the budget," she said. "Centres are struggling [and] the only place they've got to go is increase fees, which will then increase costs for parents." Wolfe said some centers might opt to reduce salaries and hire teachers at lower steps on the pay scale, a move that could worsen New Zealand's existing teacher shortage. "Teachers will go to employers who continue to recognize and pay for their experience and qualifications," she said. "Those who choose to pay less - not because they want to, but because they have to - will struggle to employ teachers, which again will result in closing." Fiona He, director of Auckland early childhood education center TuiTui Educare Photo: supplied Fiona He, director of Auckland early childhood education centre TuiTui Educare, said the change reflected a philosophical shift from a standardized, qualification-based pay model to a more market-driven, flexible approach that her center welcomed. While the change provided only minimal financial relief for ECE providers and was not expected to result in significant savings, it did offer greater flexibility in hiring, she said. She said that unrelated higher qualifications would likely no longer be given the same weight as they had in the past under the new policy. "We've had teachers with overseas master's degrees in unrelated fields who lacked understanding of New Zealand's culture, local communities and the ECE curriculum, Te Whāriki," she said. "Despite limited ECE experience and underwhelming performance, they started on Step 5 [of the parity salary scale], which is $32.59 per hour." "Meanwhile, local graduates with a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE who are native speakers and well-versed in New Zealand's culture and curriculum often begin on Step 1, at $27.58," she added. "That disparity doesn't seem fair or reflective of their readiness to teach in our context." Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi While the changes offered some financial relief and greater autonomy in staffing decisions, she said they could come at a cost - potentially increasing staff turnover and leading to a decline in educational quality if formal qualifications were de-emphasized. For teachers, the changes also risked lowering starting salaries and discouraging investment in formal education, which could ultimately lead to a loss of talent across the sector, she said. Wolfe said New Zealand's early childhood education sector continued to face a teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. While new migrant ECE teachers might need to work for several years before becoming eligible to apply for residency, opportunities in the sector still existed, she said. However, she said sustained government funding was essential to maintaining the quality of early childhood education in New Zealand. "It's not just about salaries," Wolfe said. "It's also about the funding that comes into ECE, and the funding into ECE at the moment is very inadequate. "We hope to keep attracting people into teaching [and] early childhood education."
The Star
12-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Pin Supu Forest Reserve in Sabah earns IUCN Green List award
Tungog Lake, located in Batu Puteh within the Pin Supu Forest Reserve, is a vital freshwater ecosystem surrounded by lowland rainforest, playing a key role in local biodiversity and community-based ecotourism. - Photo credit Mazidi Abd Ghani, WWF-Malaysia KOTA KINABALU: The recent IUCN Green List award for the Pin Supu Forest Reserve (PSFR) in Kinabatangan, Sabah, showcases how local governments can achieve significant milestones by collaborating with communities in conservation efforts. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia announced that this International Union for Conservation of Nature Green List status, awarded in May to the country's first terrestrial protected area, serves as a model for inclusive and practical conservation. WWF-Malaysia's Elyrice Alim, site mentor for PSFR's Green List journey, emphasized that the IUCN Green List is more than just a label—it reflects a well-managed protected area grounded in strong relationships with local communities, rights-holders, and civil society. "What makes Pin Supu Forest Reserve truly special is the community's active involvement from the beginning, including in co-developing the first management plan," she said. WWF-Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Sophia Lim echoed this sentiment, stating that the IUCN Green List is a testament to the commitment to conserving biodiversity while supporting economic growth and social inclusion. She highlighted the partnership between the Sabah Forestry Department and KOPEL as inspiring, representing over two decades of dedicated, community-driven conservation. KOPEL is a local community cooperative that promotes sustainable livelihoods through ecotourism and conservation. "We hope to see more protected and conserved areas across Malaysia achieve this global standard," Lim said, adding that this milestone highlights the success of local collaboration and places this forest reserve alongside some of the world's best-managed Protected Areas. Building on this momentum, Tun Mustapha Park (TMP)—one of Sabah's iconic marine protected areas, managed by Sabah Parks—is now preparing for its IUCN Green List evaluation. This process involves assessing how well the park is managed and protected to meet international standards, reflecting Sabah's ongoing, collective commitment to conservation excellence. Lim remarked that the recognition of Pin Supu Forest Reserve on the IUCN Green List marks a landmark moment for conservation in Sabah and Malaysia, made possible through the dedication of multiple partners. As the implementing partner of the IUCN Green List programme in Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia supports nationwide promotion, coordination, and technical facilitation of the Green List process, aiding current and future efforts by protected areas working towards this recognition. Prior to this, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) also received its accreditation in May 2022. PSFR's inclusion on the list demonstrates its exemplary commitment to biodiversity conservation, effective management, and inclusive, community-based approaches. Located in the middle of the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain in Sabah's Kinabatangan District, Pin Supu Forest Reserve spans 4,696 hectares, featuring diverse lowland forest types, oxbow lakes, and a complex limestone karst system of caves. It plays a vital role in maintaining connectivity within the broader Lower Kinabatangan floodplain ecosystem. It is currently the only forest area in Sabah managed in partnership with a local community, where meaningful participation is recognised as a key priority.
Daily Express
10-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
IUCN Green List: Pin Supu Forest Reserve first in Malaysia included
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Mardinah Jikur Text Size: Kugan said this partnership has brought positive outcomes, including nature-based tourism development that benefit local communities and promote sustainable forest management within the Kinabatangan area. SANDAKAN: The Pin Supu Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan has been officially recognised as the IUCN Green List and Conserved Areas, a prestigious recognition awarded by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) for excellence in conservation and protected area management. It is the first terrestrial site in Malaysia to be included in the List. Advertisement Sabah Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan said the certification, which was issued in May and valid for a period of five years, places Pin Supu Forest Reserve as among the world's best-managed and most effectively governed protected areas. 'More importantly, this reserve is jointly managed by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) in collaboration with Kopel Berhad, a community-based cooperative in Kinabatangan,' he added. He said Pin Supu is a Class VI Virgin Forest Reserve, encompassing 4,620 hectares, surrounded by five villages to assist in conservation projects. A 10-year joint forest management agreement (2016-2026) was established between the Sabah Government through the SFD and Kopel Berhad. Kugan said this partnership has brought positive outcomes, including nature-based tourism development that benefit local communities and promote sustainable forest management within the Kinabatangan area. He said the journey towards Green List certification began with the formal application in 2021. 'Over the course of four years, the site underwent a rigorous multi-phase process (application phase and candidate phase) to complete the 50 indicators required for the certification. 'This included comprehensive self-assessments, evidence submission through the Compass platform, independent expert evaluations by the expert assessment group for the Green List (EAGL) and a final review and verification by an independent reviewer,' said Kugan. The key milestone was the EAGL site visit, followed by the final reviewer verification in December 2024, he added. He reiterated that managing Pin Supu with the involvement of surrounding communities has given numerous positive impacts – environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity conservation, local empowerment and income growth. 'This shows the success of joint efforts in promoting environmental sustainability. This IUCN recognition is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the Sabah Forestry Department and local community in particular Kopel Berhad,' Kugan said. Earlier in 2022, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (Simca), also in Sabah, was recognised as the country's first marine IUCN Green Listed Area. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
