Migrant school leavers, who have been stuck in limbo as they await the outcome of their parents' residency applications, are being given a chance to work.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford today announced a change in policy that increases access to part-time work rights for many migrants once they've left high school.
Until now, the majority have been unable to work. And unless they have the means to pay international fees, many have been unable to access tertiary education.
"This is a critical time in any young person's life," Stanford said.
"I saw in opposition far too many young people with mental health problems because they were stuck at home. It was one of my priorities to make this change."
To be eligible to apply for the right to work, the young migrant must have left high school, and be either an applicant on an already-lodged skilled residence visa, or a dependent child residence visa.
If aged 17 at the time, they must have finished high school. Otherwise, they must be aged 18 to 24 years old, inclusive. This would see them able to work for up to 20 hours a week, during the school year, and up to 40 hours a week over the summer holidays.
The Immigration Minister also sought advice on giving migrant school leavers the ability to work full-time year-round, according to an Official Information Act request obtained by 1News.
But Stanford said it was a longer-term project that would take time to implement.
"This is really an interim measure to make sure that those young people, who are waiting right now, can start to work."
Kate Sheppard Chambers barrister Dhilum Nightingale said the policy has merit, but hoped the appropriate safeguards would be in place — particularly for children whose parents were unable to work.
"[The young adults] could actually be supporting their whole family — what safeguards are in place to ensure they are safe in the workplace and not being exploited?"
Change gives one graduate more options
The minister estimates there are up to 900 school leavers this could affect, but it's an "enduring issue that could grow", she said.
One of those recent graduates told 1News about how the change would affect him.
Until now, Pete Kinney has been unable to work or study since leaving Tokoroa High School last year. Despite being granted a university scholarship, he learned just days before school began that he couldn't accept it because he wasn't yet a resident.
"I felt devastated, sad, confused for a while, because everything I was planning wasn't going to happen — not for the moment."
His residency depends on his father's, in a case 1News has been following since October.
Noland Kinney's residency application has previously been declined, after Immigration New Zealand deemed his kidney condition meant he does not fit the acceptable standard of health.
Immigration NZ is unlikely to grant residency to Noland Kinney over health concerns. (Source: 1News)
The father has lodged an appeal of that decision with the Immigration Tribunal.
Today's announcement won't solve all of the family's problems, however Pete Kinney said it would mean having more options to work with.
"If I am able to work part-time then maybe in the near future I would be able to attend university," he said.
Immigration Law specialist Alastair McClymont said the policy shift has been a long time coming, but he would've liked to see it expanded to allow access to tertiary education.
"Having an opportunity to work part-time at least enables them to do something when they've finished school, but ideally I would have liked them to have the rights to study."
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