21/09/2026
A few days late in my post.
"The Energy in the Room"
I'll be honest: when I first saw the line-up for the 2026 NZAMI Annual Immigration Conference in Auckland, I wasn't overly excited - it's election year (say no more)! Then the day happened, and I was pleasantly surprised.
The mood was high-energy and positive. For the first time in a while, the frustrations that usually dominate industry conversations felt much quieter. The conversations at the sponsor tables and over the breaks were about opportunity rather than obstacles!
Much of that optimism comes down to two things.
1. New residence pathways for people who previously had no options. Many talented people living and working in New Zealand had nowhere to go. Now they do, and advisers can finally give them hope backed by a real pathway.
2. Positive adjustments to the points-based pathways. These changes bring migrant workers closer to living in New Zealand permanently, which is good for them, their employers and their communities.
A few personal highlights:
- Hon Erica Stanford who remains true to her word. My favourite minister since practicing immigration.
- Rt Hon Winston Peters brought his trademark sense of humour 🤭 and kept the room engaged. He's also made some outrageous policy announcements.
- Dr Oliver Hartwich of The New Zealand Initiative made the economics and the labour market outlook not just informative but genuinely funny 😁 , which is a rare combination.
- Katy Armstrong of IntoNZ was outstanding. Her practical knowledge and clear delivery on the new SMC pathways gave practitioners something they can use in their business.
The industry is looking forward to what's coming. A shout out to Julia Macklen and Alisha Ali for putting on a sell-out conference.
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