Mechanics put on migrant pathway

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced further details on changes to the skilled migrant category, which are set to help tackle skills shortages in the automotive industry

New rules are set to take effect from late August 2026 and details of the changes include confirmation of key occupation lists, including the trades and technician pathway list, and the red and amber lists, which determine eligibility for residence pathways.

INZ has also shared information about the simplified median wage settings that apply across all skilled migrant category pathways and clarified qualification requirements for claiming points.

It follows the government's announcement of changes to the skilled migrant programme in September last year to help New Zealand employers retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth. 

The trades and technician pathway will be for migrants in specified skilled roles who hold a relevant qualification at Level 4 or above and have at least four years of relevant post-qualification skilled work experience, including at least 18 months in New Zealand where they’ve been paid at or above the median wage.

The list of eligible occupations for the pathway has now been confirmed and includes automotive electricians, motor mechanics, panel beaters, vehicle body builders and vehicle painters at skill level three.

INZ says the list of trades was added to the trades and technician pathway “because they are skilled, have relevant qualification at the appropriate level for the pathway and bring important skills to the economy”.

“Many highly skilled workers in these roles did not have a realistic pathway to residence under the current skilled migrant category settings,” it adds. 

“There is a history of migrant recruitment showing that there is a gap in the labour market.

“Recognising these qualifications and providing a more realistic wage threshold for these occupations will help attract and retain migrants with important skills for the economy.”

Red and amber lists are also being introduced to manage immigration risk and ensure the pathways remain targeted to genuine skill needs.