“As part of our signalled review, we are expanding the Green List settings to include more professions in our healthcare, education and construction sectors, to give a competitive edge in a highly competitive global environment,” he said.  

The official pointed out that since the pandemic, 3,474 nurses have arrived in the country and that they need to encourage more nurses to choose New Zealand while adding that these roles will further help build their families up long term. 

On another optimistic note, Wood added, “Our message to nurses everywhere: we are the best place to live, work and play, and you will be able to seek immediate residence.”

Here are the Green List changes to be noted

• Registered nurses (on 15 December 2022)

• Midwives (on 15 December 2022)
• Specialist doctors not already on the Green List (on 15 December 2022)
• Registered Auditors (from March 2023)

Added to Green List work-to-residence path from March:

• Civil construction supervisors
• Gasfitters
• Drain layers
• Skilled crane operators
• Skilled civil machine operators
• Halal slaughterers
• Skilled motor mechanics
• Skilled telecommunications technicians
• All secondary school teachers (some specialisations already on the Green List)
• Primary school teachers