Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse yesterday announced an extension of temporary changes made to immigration rules, but said wider work to address the issues long-term was under way.
Effective immediately, employers in the district will not have to apply the ''labour market test'' process, which determines whether suitably qualified New Zealand workers are available, or can be easily trained, to do the work, making employers exempt from providing evidence of an attempt to recruit within New Zealand first.
The only exception was for roles Work and Income had identified it may be able to fill.
The initial exemption, announced in December, related to the ''labour market check'' process, which made it easier to hire working holidaymakers for short-term roles where no New Zealand candidates were available.
Mrs Bennett said getting it right was ''crucial'' for the continued success of New Zealand and the district's tourism industry.
In the Queenstown Lakes region, international visitor spending had increased by 36% in the 12 months to December, compared to the previous 12 months.
''While this is great news for the industry, it has created some unique challenges for operators struggling to recruit enough staff with the right skills to help with the increased demand,'' Mrs Bennett said.
''This has been compounded by Queenstown's tight labour market and a relatively high cost of living.''
Mrs Bennett said the changes, effective until June, would also shorten the time it took to process temporary work visas and relieve ''immediate pressures'' in the district.
While Restaurant Association of New Zealand Queenstown president Grant Hattaway said the exemption to date had worked well, and he welcomed yesterday's announcement, the problem was not going to go away.
''The resort is extremely busy ... it's probably a record summer.
''It's all positive - as long as everyone plays with a straight bat I think it will be fine [but] they're putting this in short term.
''If they just take it away, it will be the same situation as it was before.
''It [the issue] is not going to change; I don't think we're going to have a plethora of Kiwis racing to the resort to work.
''We are an island, to a degree, and we do need help.''
Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay said he was ''thrilled'' with yesterday's announcement, given alleviating stresses on the district's employment sector had been one of his top priorities since being elected.
''Queenstown has long been identified as an area which doesn't quite fit the mould for immigration and employment.
''These changes, while a medium-term solution, are a step in the right direction and I look forward to working further with industry stakeholders, ministers and employers towards providing long-term relief for employers in the area.''
Along with Mrs Bennett and Mr Woodhouse, Mr Barclay would meet industry stakeholders and tourism operators in Queenstown on March 6 to discuss the issues.
