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February 27, 2009

Alberto G. Romulo
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Your Excellency

I have the honour to refer to our discussions in relation to temporary employment in New Zealand of Nurses, Farm Managers and Engineering Professionals that are nationals of the Philippines. I wish to propose the following:

New Zealand will allow up to 100 Philippines nurses to work in New Zealand as Registered Nurses at any one time for a period of up to three years, provided that they:

(i) have a bona fide job offer as a Registered Nurse from a New Zealand employer;

(ii) hold a qualification which has been assessed as equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing or Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing, diploma or hospital based certificate; and

(iii) hold New Zealand registration (including Philippines nurses who apply from within New Zealand).

Philippines nurses may apply from any country for entry into New Zealand under this Arrangement.

A Philippines nurse who applies for entry under this Arrangement may be permitted to study in New Zealand for up to three months in order to attend a six to eight week long bridging course, and to sit the examination to gain New Zealand registration. A nurse with a job offer from a District Health Board may be permitted to enter on a temporary work visa, enabling the nurse to work while studying.

New Zealand will encourage its relevant agencies to cooperate with the relevant agencies in the Philippines to explore further possible steps in facilitation of the recruitment of nurses who are nationals of the Philippines by New Zealand Distric meets the interests of both Participants.

New Zealand will, allow up to 20 Philippines Farm Managers ordinarily resident in the Philippines to enter New Zealand at any one time for a period of up to three years, provided that they:

(i) have a bona fide job offer from a New Zealand employer as a Farm Manager, which has been assessed as equivalent to ANZSCO skill Level 1; and

(ii) have a relevant qualification and/or work experience.

New Zealand will allow up to 20 Philippines Engineering Professionals ordinarily resident in the Philippines to enter New Zealand at any one time for a period of up to three years, provided that they;

(i) have a bona fide job offer as am Engineering Professional from a New Zealand has been assessed as equivalent to ANZSCO skill Level 1;

(ii) have a degree level (level 7 or above) qualification registered on the International Professional Engineering Register or Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Engineers Register, or Washington accredited engineering degree;

(iii) hold New Zealand registration, where required;

Entry into New Zealand under this Arrangement is condition on the applicant fulfilling all other immigration requirements for applicant applying to work in New Zealand, including health and character requirements.

Philippines Nurses, Farm Managers and Engineering Professionals who have spent three years in New Zealand working under this Arrangement are not eligible to apply to re-enter New Zealand under this Arrangement unless they have spent a minimum of three years ou of New Zealand.

I have the honour to propose that, if the above proposals are acceptable to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, this letter and your confirmatory reply constitute an arrangement ("the Arrangement") between New Zealand and the Republic of the Philippines ("the Participants") entering into effect on the same date as the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area enters into force for the Republic of the Philippines.

Either Participant may, at any time, through the diplomatic channel request consultations on the provisions of this Arrangement. The other Participant will respond to the request for consultations within sixty (60) days.

Yours sincerely

(Sgd.) HON TIM GROSER
Minister of Trade New Zealand

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MANILA

27 February 2009

Dear Minister,

I refer to our discussions on the subject of a Working Holiday Scheme between New Zealand and the Philippines and your letter of 27 February 2009 which reads:

"I have the honour to refer to our discussions on the subject of a Working Holiday Scheme between New Zealand and the Philippines. I wish to propose that officials from New Zealand and the Philippines enter into negotiations for a reciprocal Working Holiday Scheme arrangement.

The Working Holiday Scheme would be open to up to 100 citizens of each country who meet that country's requirements for a working holiday maker, which for a working holiday maker from the Philippines coming to New Zealand will include, inter alia:

A university qualification granted in respect of a minimum of three years' full time study;

A level of proficiency in English which is assessed as at least functional;

Possession of sufficient funds for his/her maintenance during the period of stay in New Zealand at the discretion of the relevant authorities. This would currently be set at NZ$4,200.

If the above proposal is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, I propose that this letter and your confirmatory reply constitute a record of the joint understanding between New Zealand and the: Republic of the Philippines to enter into negotiations for a Working Holiday Scheme."

I have the honour to confirm that your proposal is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Therefore, your letter and this reply constitute a record of the joint understanding between New Zealand and the Republic of the Philippines to enter into negotiations for a Working Holiday Scheme.