WJ3 Granting of an Approval in Principle

Before an Approval in Principle (AIP) is granted, the New Zealand employer must agree to meet the following conditions for the duration of the AIP. They must agree to:

1. comply with inspections as required by Maritime New Zealand and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry) to ensure adherence to the Immigration Instructions for Foreign Crew of Fishing Vessels;
2. ensure that they use only acceptable manning agents for the recruitment and placement of foreign crew (WJ5.5);
3. ensure that a representative meets each arriving foreign crew member in New Zealand and transports them to the vessel, their onward domestic flight or their accommodation (WJ5.15);
4. educate and inform foreign crew of their rights and obligations in respect of employment and immigration matters (WJ5.20);
5. implement measures to assist in managing the risk of desertion while the vessel is in port (WJ5.25);
6. advise Immigration New Zealand (INZ) as soon as practicable of any information:
   1. that may assist to prevent any desertion or to apprehend foreign crew who have deserted; and
   2. of those people who encourage or assist foreign crew to desert in breach of their work visa conditions (WJ5.25.5);
7. undertake a full investigation of any complaints or concerns raised by foreign crew and co-operate fully with any investigation of complaints by the Ministry (WJ5.30);
8. keep and make available accurate employment records (WJ5.35);
9. make employment records available to the Ministry, or any auditors engaged by the Ministry, at the commencement of any regularly scheduled audit (WJ5.40);
10. adhere to all the conditions for the employment of crew as set out in WJ5.45 including the ability to pay crew wages into New Zealand bank accounts;
11. have out-going foreign crew transported to their airport of departure and give sufficient notice of at least 24 hours of crew departure to allow crew members the opportunity to contact and meet with their authorised representative before departing New Zealand (WJ5.50).

Effective 08/05/2017