Temporary workers in the entertainment, music, film and television industries who intend to be in New Zealand for a specific purpose or event (such as taking up an acting or production role in film or television, or taking part in a music or dance tour or event) need to apply for a work visa. The current immigration process requires all such work visa applications to be referred to the relevant industry guild or union. The guilds are the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild, the Screen Production and Development Association, and the Screen Directors’ Guild of New Zealand. The unions are New Zealand Actors’ Equity, and the musicians’ branch of the Service and Food Workers Union.
In the future there will be two different work visa application streams. There will be a streamlined process, without any guild or union referral, for most applicants (including all those who are working in New Zealand for two weeks or less). Work visa applications from other workers would be subject to industry-led labour market testing either through the current process, or through employer accreditation.
The key objective of the proposed changes is to reduce compliance costs on businesses and to support economic growth, by ensuring that entertainment industry businesses can get the people they need when they need them, while still providing protections for New Zealand workers. The current ‘one size fits all’ immigration process, where all applications are referred to industry guilds or unions whether or not there is a risk of displacement of New Zealand workers, does not necessarily take into account the requirements of different sectors, types of productions or other government objectives.
The proposals will reduce red tape and compliance costs for businesses, and make it easier to bring entertainment industry workers to New Zealand. Inbound productions can create significant numbers of job opportunities for New Zealanders across a range of roles. This will reduce the risk of the immigration process reducing our attractiveness to overseas productions.
These changes apply to temporary workers in the music, screen and entertainment industry. This includes entertainers, performing artists and associated support personnel, film and video production and post-production crew, producers and directors.
