Turner Hopkins Immigration

08/10/2026

Dear Minister, whoever you might be after the November election, I have a small request. Well, actually, it's quite a big one.

Immigration policy has become increasingly tied to election cycles, political priorities and short-term thinking. Yet the decisions we make about who can come to New Zealand, who can stay and what skills we value have consequences that extend well beyond voting day.

As a country, we need to collectively ask ourselves whether the criteria we use to select migrants - particularly wages and qualifications - are actually identifying the people New Zealand needs, or simply those who fit neatly into an administrative framework.

In this week's article, I've written an open letter to whoever takes on the Immigration portfolio after the election. It's not a plea to stop changing immigration policy. Sometimes change is absolutely necessary.

It's a request to start making those changes with a much longer-term view.

Because a country can't build a ten-year immigration strategy if it keeps starting again every three years.

https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/news/dear-minister

Dear Future Minister of Immigration I do not know who you are yet. You may be the current Minister, still occupying the office after November election or you may be her replacement. You may come from National, Labour, ACT, New Zealand First, the Greens, or whoever else might end up in the political

07/10/2026

The process of moving countries is complex, can often be frustrating and will test even the strongest of people. Having done this for well over twenty years, and having moved skilled professionals, investors, family members and almost everything in between, the notion of trust is something I see as crucial in terms of the relationship between an adviser and their client.

Trust doesn't mean, telling prospective migrants what they want to hear, however it does mean presenting all of the issues, challenges and obstacles, along with the potential solutions that might be available.

Trust means, being able to respond in a timely manner, and with advice that counts, and thinking not just about the question being asked then and there, but all the questions that might follow on from that.

The feedback we received yesterday from this family reminded me of how important trust is in this process and how hard it is to maintain but how important it is to have.

I assisted this family seven years ago with their move and then more recently with the application for their parents. The came back to me, to assist with that second application because they trusted me to do it. That is something I take very seriously and also appreciate it isn't built right away.

For those who engage with us for the first time, we don't spend a lot of time explaining the complexity of the process (most people would never remember the details anyway), but we do work hard to build that trust, and to demonstrate that not only do we know what we are doing, but that we take the client's move as seriously as they do.

For advice on your visa process, whether you are just starting out, or already here, get in touch with the team today: [email protected] | web: www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz

01/10/2026

There is no point pretending the New Zealand job market is easy right now. It isn’t.

Unemployment is up, competition for roles is fierce and plenty of very capable migrants are finding that a strong CV and years of overseas experience do not necessarily translate into a quick job offer.

But the picture is not entirely bleak either. Job advertising is starting to recover, filled jobs are edging upwards and there are clear signs that parts of the labour market are beginning to move again.

For migrants, the challenge is slightly more complicated because finding any job is not always enough. The job also needs to make sense from an immigration perspective.

In our latest article, we look at what the current labour market numbers actually show, where the opportunities may be, and why migrants need to think about employment and immigration strategy together.

https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/news/the-nz-job-market

If you are currently looking for a job in New Zealand, you probably do not need an economist or a subscription to the New Zealand Herald, to tell you that the labour market has been difficult. You already know how challenging it is. You know because you have probably applied for jobs and heard noth

28/09/2026

An interesting weekend indeed...mostly due to the Stuff article discussing how our industry works and some of the players within it (https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361038335/mouth-foamers-professor-hits-back-over-his-official-sounding-immigration-bodies).

The article does raise some really valid points in relation to how migrants and employers who might be involved in the visa process, are marketed to and whether that marketing is doing our industry damage.

My personal take is that it is and it isn't about one individual necessarily, but a much bigger issue, that plagues most professional services. In our space, the creation of pseudo-licenses and bogus credentials, do nothing to strengthen the trust that clients should be afforded, when they are moving from one country to another.

In this video, I explain my commentary from the article a bit more and add some context to the topic - one that I am very passionate about.

25/09/2026

Most people would not buy a house after a two-week holiday, yet plenty of people move countries on roughly the same level of research.

New Zealand’s remote working and tax settings now give some prospective migrants a far more sensible option: come here, live here for a while, keep working offshore and find out whether the reality matches the idea before making the bigger move.

Our latest article looks at how that can work, where the limits sit, and why migration planning may be better when it starts with life rather than a visa.

Read the article here: https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/news/try-before-you-buy

Moving countries, lock, stock and barrel is a fairly ridiculous way to find out whether you like somewhere. People sell houses, resign from jobs, pull children out of schools, say goodbye to family and ship the contents of their homes halfway around the world, often on the strength of social media c

21/09/2026

How does an interim visa work? What does INZ look for in a partnership visa? Can I lose my residence?

These are just some of the questions we are asked on a daily basis and they can range from simple to incredibly complex.

While every person's visa situation is unique, there is some general guidance we can offer, and our short video tips are designed to help clear away some of the confusion to those everyday common questions.

For a plan, strategy and simple, easy to understand steps in terms of your own application, contact the Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists team today (online assessment: https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/assessment) or email us: [email protected]

17/09/2026

The Skilled Migrant Category has changed significantly, and it is still evolving.

That makes a proper initial assessment more important than ever.

The question is not simply whether you qualify for residence today. It is whether your current job, salary, qualifications and visa strategy are actually moving you towards residence tomorrow.

A points calculator can give you a number. A good assessment should give you a plan.

In our latest blog, we look at why early immigration advice matters, particularly when the rules keep moving and the cost of getting the strategy wrong can be measured in years.

https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/news/the-value-of-assessment

With the Skilled Migrant Category changing repeatedly, and with further adjustments still likely, understanding whether you qualify today is only part of the picture. The more important question is whether the decisions you are making now are actually moving you towards residence. A good initial as

15/09/2026

A career in journalism awaits?

Big thanks to Craig Walsh from Front Row Productions for filming the event, the speakers and even catching me at the NZAMI conference.

An excellent day, some interesting presentations and a great chance to catch up with colleagues from within the industry.

15/09/2026

Sometimes knowing where to start is half the battle, particularly if you are contemplating a move from one side of the world to the other.

Some basic tips from the Turner Hopkins Immigration Specialists team...stay tuned for more to come.

14/09/2026

Figuring out where to start in your visa process is often the hardest part. There are a lot of slick websites, social media posts and plenty of unsolicited advice from friends, family and those who have gone before.

You might even be tempted to ask AI to map out your pathway, however unless you know the right questions to ask, all of that can be more trouble than it is worth.

That is why we offer every hopeful New Zealand migrant, a simple way to find out whether they qualify, how they qualify and more importantly to establish the issues that might challenge them along the way.

Assessment: https://www.turnerhopkinsimmigration.co.nz/assessment

Our online assessment process is free to complete, and while we do ask a fair few questions, this allows us to provide you with the right advice. If we believe there is a pathway for you, we will offer you a brief outline of those options at no charge or you can invest in a bit more time for us to map it out in full for you.

For the time you spend completing the form, we will give you honest, accurate and realistic advice in terms of your ability to make the move.

Don't leave your move to chance or to the good intentions of social media communities...speak to licensed advisers who can walk you through the process from start to finish.

Jump online today or start with an email to one of the team: [email protected]