UPDATE: Accredited Employer Work Visa

23 May 2022

The first stage of the new “Accredited Employer work visa” system went live yesterday and Immigration lawyers and advisors are all go!


In case you are somehow still out of the loop, from 4 July 2022 all employers wanting to support migrant workers for a visa application will need to be an Immigration New Zealand “Accredited Employer”.


For most businesses, getting Accredited will be a relatively straightforward process. You will need to declare that your business is financially viable, is compliant with all New Zealand employment and immigration laws, is committed to supporting your migrant workers and will complete a series of online employment modules (and will let your migrant employees do the same).


However, if your business places migrant employees with a third party (i.e. if you are a labour-hire company) or is a franchisee, then you will need to meet extra requirements before your business can be Accredited.


Once your business is Accredited, there will be additional steps before you can hire migrant staff. First, you will need to advertise the role you want to fill (called the “Job Check”) and submit the results of the advertising to Immigration New Zealand. Job Check applications will open on 10 June 2022. Your business will not need to complete the Job Check step if the role pays twice the median wage ($55.52 per hour) or is on the Green List of skill shortage occupations (https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/work-and-employment/green-list-occupations).


If the Job Check is approved, then your prospective migrant employee will need to submit an application for the new Accredited Employer work visa. Accredited Employer work visa applications will be open from 4 July 2022. From this date, you will only be able to support migrant workers for visas under the Accredited Employer work visa.


Get in touch with us as soon as possible if you want to know more about Accredited Employer work visa and what it will mean for your business!

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Probate threshold increased to $40,000 – what this means for Kiwi families

30 October 2025
From 24 September 2025 , the New Zealand Government increased the probate threshold from $15,000 to $40,000 — a long-awaited change that simplifies the estate process for thousands of families. This adjustment, though seemingly small, removes the need for costly High Court applications for many modest estates, especially KiwiSaver accounts sitting between $20,000 and $40,000. Why this change matters The previous $15,000 limit was set decades ago when savings balances were far smaller. With KiwiSaver now a cornerstone of retirement planning, many New Zealanders had moderate accounts that still triggered the expensive probate process. Under the old rules, families often had to spend $2,000–$3,000 on legal fees to release funds that were barely worth more than that. The new $40,000 threshold reduces this red tape and helps ensure small estates aren’t swallowed up by administration costs . What probate actually is Probate is the formal process where the High Court confirms that a deceased person’s will is valid and appoints the executor to manage their estate. It gives banks, KiwiSaver providers and insurers legal proof that they’re releasing funds to the right person. Until now, almost any estate exceeding $15,000 required probate, even if it was just a modest KiwiSaver balance or a small bank account. 
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Granny Flats without consent? Government says Yes (from 2026)

14 October 2025
From 2026, NZ homeowners can build granny flats without consent. Learn what the new law means for you with expert guidance from Weston Ward & Lascelles.