WJ1.5 Objective

The objectives of the Foreign Crew of Fishing Vessels instructions are to:

1. allow the New Zealand fishing industry to supplement the New Zealand workforce with non-New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder workers while ensuring that growth in the industry is supported primarily by New Zealand crew;
2. promote best practice in the fishing industry to support economic growth and productivity of the industry as a whole, while ensuring that the employment conditions of both New Zealand and non-New Zealand citizen or residence class visa holder workers are protected and supported;
3. ensure workers recruited under these instructions are adequately paid;
4. ensure outcomes which promote the integrity, credibility and reputation of the New Zealand immigration and employment relations systems; and
5. protect New Zealand’s international reputation.

WJ1.5.1 Meeting the objectives of the Foreign Crew of Fishing vessels instructions

To ensure these objectives are met:

1. work visas for foreign fishing crew will be granted only where:
   1. the immigration officer is satisfied the New Zealand employer will comply with the requirements specified for such activity; and
   2. there are available places for employment in the employer’s AIP (when recruiting seven or more overseas crew members for a single New Zealand vessel); or
   3. the number of work visas that can be approved is no more than six positions on a single vessel in a calendar year (for non-AIP employers).
2. a high standard of proof is required to satisfy officers that such requirements and the requirements of immigration instructions will be and are being met; and
3. the immigration officer must consider the compliance history and particular arrangements (including crew recruitment practices) of individuals associated with the New Zealand employer; and
4. permission to use foreign labour will be withdrawn and further permission refused where there is any breach of requirements other than of a minor nature, that has not been remedied to the satisfaction of Immigration New Zealand.

Effective 02/12/2024