4 August 2020
Ryan Potts
By email: fyi‐request‐13260‐[email address]
File No: DOIA 2021‐0058
Dear Ryan Potts
Thank you for your email of 7 July 2020, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
I request any and all emails received by Immigration NZ from Work & Income during the
period 31 March‐30 June 2020 that contain, in the main body, advice pertaining to the
availability of New Zealanders for training and employment in the dairy sector. Please note
that I refer to material provided in addition to Skill Match Reports.
Our response
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is copied into emails sent from the Ministry of Social Development
(Work and Income) to employers relating to requests for Skills Match Reports.
We have identified 82 emails received by INZ from Work and Income between 31 March and 30 June
2020 containing advice pertaining to the availability of New Zealanders for training and employment
in the dairy sector. All of the emails contain the same generic advice.
On 30 July 2020 you agreed that your request for information would be satisfied by the release of
the number of emails received and a copy of the generic advice contained within these emails.
The generic advice is sent to employers who are seeking a Skills Match Report from Work and
Income. It states:
From our initial labour market assessment, we have been unable to identify a suitable and/or
trainable person from our registered job seekers.
However, in order to provide a Skills Match Report, we need to ensure that you have fully
tested the current labour market, which is rapidly changing as businesses and people
continue to be affected by COVID‐19.
The next step is for you to list your vacancy on https://www.jobs‐during‐
covid.workandincome.govt.nz/hello This platform enables employers to list jobs for free and
connect quickly and directly with applicants.
You will need to list your job for a minimum of five days. Once the listing has closed you can
generate a Skills Match Report (SMR) directly from the website.
A copy of this email will need to be included with the SMR to support the work visa
application.
Two of the 82 emails direct the employers to list the vacancy on a different website
(
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/findstaff) but the wording of the advice is otherwise the
same.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact Anna McLachlan,
Business Advisor, Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand at [email address].
Yours sincerely
Nicola Hogg
General Manager
Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
