He explains what’s behind the surge in numbers: how immigration has more than bounced back after falling to a trickle during the pandemic years.

“The moment the borders opened we got that surge of people leaving and coming in, but it’s really been the opening of the visa categories and the loosening of the restrictions … the need to get workers in to relieve shortages in various industries.” 

Under political pressure, and industry and business pressure, it’s been much easier for people to get jobs here. 

But despite the new wave of immigrants, helped by the Green List that gives straight to residence visas to certain groups of skilled workers, worrying gaps still hamper crucial sectors such as healthcare, education and construction.

Martin, an immigration lawyer for 25 years, says New Zealand struggles to compete with countries such as Australia, the US and the UK which offer better pay and conditions as well as more financial support for people applying for jobs here.

And we don’t do ourselves any favours. 

Nurses, for example. One of the problems is that the health sector wants people who are what Martin calls “photoshop ready”. 

“In other words, I will have a job for you if you are a nurse who has got your New Zealand registration and I just need to offer you the job. 

“[Overseas nurses] have to go through the recognition of their prior learning qualifications – that costs them. They might have to do NZQA assessments. They then have to go through Nursing Council processes as well, and then they get told they need to do a CAP course (Competency Assessment Programme) … that costs between $8,000 – $12,000.

“And they have to pay for that. Up front, with no promise of a job, plus all the other costs, in the hope they might get a job. That’s a big risk to take. 

“Australia – they actually facilitate all that. 

“Sometimes we are inadvertently putting barriers in place in order to make it ok for us. Well hold on, how does it make it look from the point of view of the person that we’re trying to attract?”