Kia ora R B,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 22/04/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
I'm wanting to know details on work visas (AEWV) being approved by
Immigration New Zealand as the media or publicly released information
doesn't provide detailed numbers on this.

Please provide information on:

1) The number of AEWV applications approved between March 2025 to March
2026, broken down by the month.
Columns expected: Month, Number of Submitted or Accepted applications,
Number of Approved applications

2) The number of AEWV applications approved between 1st March 2025 to 31st
March 2026, broken down by the top 10 occupations (highest numbers of the
approved AEWV applications in the duration) and month.
Columns expected: Occupation Code, Occupation Description, Month (column
per month), Total

3) The number of AEWV applications approved between 1st March 2025 to 31st
March 2026, broken down by the top 10 nationalities (of applicants,
ordered by the highest numbers of the approved AEWV applications in the
duration) and month.

4) The median hourly rate for AEWV applications approved between 1st March
2025 to 31st March 2026, broken down by the top 10 occupations.
Columns expected: Occupation Code, Occupation Description, Approved
applications, Median hourly wage rate
Notes: The occupation codes provided can be based on the Australian and
New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) or other
latest standards you use.
The “top 10 occupations” are based on the 10 occupations that have the
highest numbers of the approved AEWV applications between the duration
requested in the question.
Response format used by INZ for the Appendix of DOIA-REQ-0007026 can be
used as a reference.

5) Any reports or ministerial briefs provided to the Minister which
contain approval numbers specifically for AEWV. I request release of the
full text of such reports (even sections not mentioning AEWV) so wider
context can be understood.

This data is critical to understand skill shortages, wage level
improvement or suppression trends and if the system is working as intended
especially during times of a slowing economy and record high unemployment
and underemployment levels in our nation.
Hence, I also urge your team to consider making these details publicly
available by means of a dashboard updated on a weekly or monthly basis and
provided as a media update for public awarness and genuine debates on
Immigration policy.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 21/05/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora RB,

 

Could you please confirm the date range for question 5 of your OIA request
is the same as the other 4 questions - 1st March 2025 to 31st March 2026?

 

5) Any reports or ministerial briefs provided to the Minister which
contain approval numbers specifically for AEWV. I request release of the
full text of such reports (even sections not mentioning AEWV) so wider
context can be understood.

Kind regards

Rose

 

Business Advisor
Ministerial Services Team
Immigration New Zealand | Te Rōpū Manene
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Kia ora RB,

 

Please find attached notification of extension to your OIA request.

 

Kind regards

Rose

 

Business Advisor
Ministerial Services Team
Immigration New Zealand | Te Rōpū Manene
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment