why would NZ employers not sponsor visas? (credit, employment)

[rzzz]

There's a company in Auckland which develops niche software in a particular, relatively difficult field that I happen to specialize in. It is a difficult field to staff. When I hired people in California, we would hire specialists from Canada, Germany, Sweden and France...even though it is a massive headache to do so. The company in Auckland doesn't sponsor visas even for qualified applicants. It seems like NZ would have an easier visa sponsoring process than the USA, although perhaps my thinking is naive.

I am wondering why they wouldn't sponsor a visa. Is it a headache for NZ companies to sponsor visas?

[Samuel,J]

Because they don't have someone who's able to do it, or it costs them too much to go through the process? Or maybe they don't qualify for some reason (too small perhaps). It is strange that this is a field that is difficult to staff but they do nothing to facilitate overseas recruitment.

For an employer to qualify for accreditation, INZ must be satisfied that the employer:

• is in a sound financial position
• has human resource policies and processes of a high standard
• has a demonstrable commitment to training and employing New Zealanders, and
• has good workplace practices – including a history of compliance with all immigration and employment laws and
• policies such as: the Immigration Act; the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act; the Minimum Wage Act; the Health and Safety in Employment Act; the Employment Relations Act; and the Holidays Act

It does look like a tedious process http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/06EF88F0-E183-48AA-A035-55D8D1A8A1F9/0/INZ1090November2010.pdf

And after all that it only lasts for 12 months and then the employer has to fork out for a renewal, looks like a nice little earner for the NZ government though I suppose it's all tax deductible.