mmigration Minister Michael Wood says the latest immigration changes come as there's more competition in the global environment.
Wood told Checkpoint as there are shortages in sectors like nursing around world, other countries have changed immigration settings and NZ has followed suit to be in the best possible position to fill workplace shortages.
Nurses, specialist doctors, and midwives are finally being put onto the straight-to-residency green list.
From Thursday, registered nurses and midwives will have an immediate pathway to residence, including those already in New Zealand.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the fast-track to residency for nurses is really welcome and a positive step forward.
But she's hearing from the sector that Australia is a more attractive place to work, so she's not as convinced NZ is as attractive as AUS.
While the government's change brings certainty, pay and conditions are still an issue, she told Checkpoint.
Safety at work still needs addressing, she says.
The government says it is getting ahead, but Kerri Nuku says nurses on the floor don't feel that the government is quite ahead of the issue.
