Mechanic roles added to immigration Green List

Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced the Government will add skilled motor mechanics to the immigration Green List to help battle the automotive industry’s labour shortage.

From March 2023, skilled motor mechanics from overseas will be able to apply for work in New Zealand following calls from the motor industry to fill much needed roles.

The decision is being lauded by the Motor Trade Association with Chief Executive Ian Pike saying: “We are extremely grateful to Minister Wood for hearing the call of the industry, and taking this step to support businesses across the country.”

At the start of November, there were 1300 job listings in the automotive industry while Seek showed 1500, most of which were for mechanics.

“This just shows how dire the shortage is,” Pike says. “It’s been the number one issue keeping MTA members awake at night for some time.

“The shortage has been hurting a lot of businesses across the country, with flow-on negative effects to communities and important Government projects.”

MTA has long advocated for looser immigration settings to fill empty roles in the industry, meeting with Wood recently to add them to the Green List.

Wood acknowledged the industry’s calls for more workers, saying: “listening to the concerns of these sectors, and working with them to take practicable steps to unlock additional labour… to help fill skills gaps, as businesses work towards more productive and resilient ways of operating”.

MTA and other agencies say they will continue to engage, train, and retain young people in the industry while today’s announcement will help bridge the skill shortage within the automotive sector.

The Association will continue to advocate for panelbeaters and vehicle painters, which were on the regional list but haven’t been carried over to the Green List, to be added to the Green List in 2023.