The latest figures from Immigration New Zealand show officials did not meet performance targets for deciding residence visas in half of all cases.
Photo: RNZ
Almost three-quarters of work visas are being completed within 24 days nationwide, but that figure falls to 62 percent in Auckland.
Only one in three applications was being finalised within 60 days in the city.
Immigration New Zealand said processing times depended on the complexity of applications.
Paper-based departure cards for people leaving the country could be removed by Christmas, Statistics New Zealand says.
Fruit growers will have to pay pickers more if they want to entice more workers into jobs, the Immigration Minister says.
Some building industry employers are more than willing to take on undocumented immigrants because they're seen as cheap and hassle free labour, according to one leading engineering academic.
Immigrants filling trade and technical jobs are outnumbering those taking professional roles for the first time on record.
ICT workers who were refused residence visas after being classed as call centre operators say further delays to their cases are draining their hopes and causing mental anguish.
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