The Motor Trade Association (MTA) has welcomed the Government’s creation of a new Trades and Technician pathway for migrants, saying it recognises the value of trades in addressing workforce shortages.
The announcement follows recent Government moves to boost trades as a career option through secondary school education reforms. MTA head of advocacy, James McDowall, says the association has advocated for improved trades access for almost a year.
“We told Government that it is essential to recognise that trades are skilled professions,” McDowall says. “These roles have long deserved more recognition for the expertise and technical skill they require and the Skilled Migrant Category needed to be fixed to address this.”
The automotive industry produces $6.8 billion or 1.9% of gross domestic product according to NZIER, and McDowall says the growing sector needs more workers to deliver continued expansion.
While welcoming the announcement, McDowall expressed frustration at the mid-2026 implementation date. “It is a shame we have to wait until mid-2026 for the changes to kick in,” he says.
“That said, knowing it’s coming gives certainty to employers and migrants already here, who are working towards residency.”
The MTA has consistently argued that while many businesses want to develop and hire local workers, overseas workers play an important role in filling gaps and relieving strain on employers.
McDowall says the announcement, combined with the return of automotive training body MITO to industry and curriculum changes recognising trades, addresses both sides of the workforce equation.
“It also goes a long way to dispel the dated trope that trades are a second-rate career compared to white collar roles,” he says. “The truth is – tradespeople make a massive contribution to this country and always will.”
The new pathway forms part of broader Government efforts to address skills shortages across multiple sectors while encouraging domestic training and career development in trades.
