On April 11, 2023, the government announced significant updates to the Green List, adding 32 new health roles and updating the pathways to residency for these roles. This move is expected to boost the delivery of health services in New Zealand and provide more opportunities for eligible individuals to apply for residency. In addition to health roles, Ship Masters and Deckhands have also been added to the Bus and Truck driver sector agreement.

New Health Roles Added to Green List

Starting from May 29, 2023, the following health roles will be added to the Green List:

1. Addiction practitioner/alcohol & drug clinician
2. Audiometrist
3. Chiropractor
4. Clinical dental technician
5. Clinical physiologists (sleep, renal, exercise, respiratory, neurology, and cardiac)
6. Counselor
7. Dental specialists
8. Dental technician
9. Dental Therapist
10. Dentist
11. Dietician
12. Dispensing optician
13. Drug and alcohol counselor
14. Enrolled nurse
15. Genetic counselor
16. Medical laboratory pre-analytical technician
17. Medical resonance imaging technologist
18. Nuclear medicine technologist
19. Nurse practitioner
20. Optometrist
21. Oral health therapist
22. Orthotic and prosthetic technician
23. Orthotist/prosthetist
24. Osteopath
25. Paramedic/emergency medical technician
26. Perfusionist (cardiac)
27. Pharmacist
28. Physiotherapist
29. Play therapist (hospital)
30. Social worker
31. Speech-language therapist
32. Sterile processing technician

Updates to Residency Pathways

All health roles on the Green List Work to Residence pathway will now be moved to the Straight to Residence pathway. This includes the following roles:

1. Anaesthetic Technician
2. Audiologist
3. Medical imaging technologist
4. Medical laboratory technician
5. Medical radiation therapist
6. Occupational therapist
7. Podiatrist
8. Sonographer

The existing roles on the Green List Straight to Residence pathway remain unchanged and include the following:

1. Clinical Psychologists
2. Medical laboratory scientist
3. Medical practitioners
4. Midwife
5. Orthoptist
6. Physicist (Medical)
7. Psychologists
8. Registered Nurse

Ship Masters and Deckhands Added to Sector Agreement

The government has confirmed the inclusion of Ship Masters (ANZSCO code 231213) and Deckhands (ANZSCO code 899211) in the time-limited residence pathway through a sector agreement for bus and truck drivers. Skippers must be paid the market rate, and migrant worker deckhands must be paid at least the median wage to utilize this sector agreement. Details for the bus, truck, skipper, and deckhand sector agreement are still being finalized, with implementation expected to begin in late May.

Conclusion

The addition of 32 new health roles to the Green List and the updated pathways to residency demonstrates the government's commitment to improving the delivery of health services in New Zealand. Aspiring residents in these roles should take advantage of this opportunity and prepare for the application process beginning on May 29, 2023.