The New Zealand government is investing $75 million in a new IT system to improve the country’s immigration services.
It wants to make the service more responsive, secure and timely and speed up visa applications, said Immigration minister Jonathan Coleman.
‘We are competing worldwide to recruit skilled and talented people and a new system will help speed up the processing of visa applications and allow applicants to do more online. Providing a fast and modern service is critical in attracting skilled migrants who can help grow the economy,’ he explained.
‘The existing IT system is over 15 years old and is reaching the end of its technological lifespan. The cost of even simple changes is high and cannot be maintained over the long term. It‘s also significantly impairing our ability to provide standards of service and security comparable to other nations,’ Coleman added.
The new Immigration Global Management System (IGMS) will provide an agile system that enables more online processing and automation of simple tasks for clients and employers and the ability for all data to be accessed by INZ offices worldwide.
The system will also provide biometric capability which offers significant improvement in identity management and enhanced security.
People applying for visas will also have their own individual online immigration accounts that will enable them to enter all their details online and track progress on their applications. Implementation of IGMS is scheduled to begin in early 2012.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Key has expressed his disappointment at the British Government’s announcement overnight of an increase in passenger duty for air travellers to New Zealand.
The British Government has announced that the UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) will increase next April from £85 pounds to £92 sterling per passenger coming to New Zealand.
‘The APD places a significant burden on New Zealand businesses, on families who travel, and on our tourism industry. With the tax for New Zealand bound passengers set at four or five times the costs of offsetting the carbon emissions produced, this logic is without basis,’ he said.
‘The British Government’s announcement maintains this cost difference, and ignores the fact that environmental concerns about emissions are being addressed through the European Union’s extension of its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to aviation emissions. That puts a levy on airlines meaning there is no justification for an additional duty on air passengers which discriminates on the basis of distance,’ he added.
Key said the New Zealand Government had been hopeful that the British Government had been persuaded not to proceed with an increased APD that discriminated unfairly against Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Singapore, South Africa and a few others.
Hi, probably our entry may be off topic but anyways, I have been surfing around your blog and it looks
ReplyDeletevery professional. It’s obvious you know your topic and you appear fervent about it. I’m developing a
fresh blog plus I’m struggling to make it look good, as well as offer the best quality content. I have
learned much at your web site and also I anticipate alot more articles and will be coming back soon.
Thanks you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian Immigration
Information technology is most necessary that everywhere. It make well and most attractive communication which need of time. That create well growth of management and services.
ReplyDeleteManaged IT Services Toronto
yes its very new and this system helps for newzealand people very much..
ReplyDeleteBilla2 | Thuppaki | Thuppaki Stills