A number of changes to Immigration New Zealand's operational policy take effect on 29 March 2010.

New Silver Fern work policies

The Silver Fern policies will target young, highly skilled people from overseas, and allow them to enter New Zealand to find skilled employment. They include:

• Silver Fern Job Search Policy
• Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy.

There are 300 places available each year, beginning 27 April 2010.The quota will be managed by an online application system.

Working holiday schemes

Changes to working holiday schemes (WHSs) include:

• the introduction of WHSs for young citizens of Spain and Slovenia
• change in the age limit of the Canada WHS (from 18-30 to 18-35 years)
• Japanese working holidaymakers are no longer restricted to a maximum of three months working for the same employer
• applicants for the Argentina, Chile, and Taiwan WHS may now only apply using the online application system
• increase in the number of places available to young citizens of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Details of these and other policy changes are available in Amendment Circular 2010-02 PDF [560KB]. Our Operational Manual and website will be updating today.