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Department of Labour

322 posts | 2 images

The Department of Labour's primary role is to improve the performance of the labour market and, through this, strengthen the economy and increase the standard of living for those in New Zealand.

Joined August 2007
12,528 profile views
News Images
Crime 8 Feb 2013
Home detention and reparation order for unlicensed immigration adviser

A woman who took cash from people and falsely promised them jobs was sentenced today to 10 months home detention and ordered to pay $70,630 reparation to 16 victims.

910 views

Employment 23 Jan 2013
Skilled vacancies fall further in December

Online job vacancies decreased further in December following a fall in November, according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

540 views

Employment 11 Jan 2013
Summer holiday workers reminded of their employment rights

With the number of people employed in temporary work during the summer holidays, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is reminding employees to be aware of their rights.

721 views

Agriculture 3 Jan 2013
Ministry asks farmers for a safe start to 2013

Farmers are being warned to keep themselves safe this summer – a time when more fatal accidents can occur.

604 views

Business 21 Dec 2012
Businesses urged to focus on machine guarding basics

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is reminding businesses involved in all areas of manufacturing and processing about the importance of effective machine guarding.

672 views

Employment 14 Dec 2012
Meat processor fined after serious injury

One of New Zealand’s largest meat processing firms, Alliance Group, has been fined $60,000 and ordered to pay $20,000 in reparation following a serious accident at its Lorneville Plant near Invercargill in December 2011.

750 views

News 10 Dec 2012
Six arrested appear in court on immigration-related charges

Six people arrested last week as part of an Immigration New Zealand-led investigation into allegations of migrant labour exploitation and other immigration-related offending appeared in Wellington District Court this morning.

458 views

Employment 7 Dec 2012
Bee keeping business fined after worker loses top of finger

A beekeeping business in Cambridge has been fined $32,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $10,000 after an employee lost part of his finger on an unguarded table saw.

537 views

Employment 7 Dec 2012
Business fined after worker crushed unloading container

A Mangere freight business has been ordered to pay a fine of $50,000 and reparation of $5,000 - in addition to $10,000 that had already been paid - after an 18 year old contractor was crushed unloading a shipping container.

565 views

News 6 Dec 2012
School convicted after fatal accident

Motueka High School Board of Trustees were convicted today at Nelson District Court following the death of child on the school grounds earlier this year and ordered to pay reparation of $60,000.

468 views

Employment 6 Dec 2012
Waimea Sawmillers convicted after fall from heights

Waimea Sawmillers Ltd, a sawmilling company based in Nelson, was fined $52,500 today following an accident in which a contractor suffered multiple serious injuries.

547 views

News 6 Dec 2012
Arrests made in immigration investigation

Five people have been arrested as part of an Immigration New Zealand-led investigation into allegations of migrant labour exploitation and other immigration-related offending.

449 views

News 5 Dec 2012
New forest operations approved code of practice launched in Rotorua

ROTORUA — MP for Rotorua Todd McClay today launched the Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations at the Forest Industry Contractors Association ‘Big Day Out’ conference in Rotorua.

704 views

News 22 Nov 2012
Department of Conservation convicted over volunteer death

AUCKLAND CITY — The Department of Conservation (DOC) was convicted today at Auckland District Court following the death of DOC volunteer Mihai Muncus-Nagy earlier this year.

546 views

Employment 15 Nov 2012
Growth in skilled vacancies following september fall

Job vacancies advertised online increased in October following a fall in September, according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

640 views

Employment 8 Nov 2012
Meat processor fined after employee crushes hand

An Oamaru meat processor has been fined $47,250 and ordered to pay $10,500 in reparation after an employee’s hand was crushed between unguarded fixed rollers on a conveyor belt.

597 views

News 2 Nov 2012
Ministry taking tough stance on unsafe construction sites

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has had to shut down 215 residential construction sites since July for poor height safety work practices.

516 views

Employment 31 Oct 2012
Manurewa recycling company fined after employee loses arm

A Manurewa recycling firm has been fined $40,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $50,000 this week following an incident where an employee lost his arm in a baling machine.

550 views

News 25 Oct 2012
Airlines fined for boarding unauthorised passengers

Two airlines have been prosecuted for allowing passengers to fly to New Zealand without getting prior approval from Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

493 views

Employment 17 Oct 2012
Restaurant fined after employee seriously injured in pasta machine

TAURANGA — A Tauranga restaurant has been ordered to pay a fine of $20,000 and reparation of $6,000 after an employee sustained serious injuries after trapping his arm in a pasta maker.

624 views

Employment 17 Oct 2012
Online vacancies fall in September

Job vacancies advertised online fell in September following an increase in August, according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

601 views

Employment 11 Oct 2012
Preventable fall from height leaves worker seriously injured

Brin Wilson Boats Limited of Whangaparaoa has been fined $30,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $15,000 after one of its workers fell more than three metres and received serious injuries.

566 views

Legal 11 Oct 2012
Airline fined for not complying with 'do not board' directive

Malaysia Airlines has been fined $5,500 in the Manukau District Court for failing to comply with its obligations under the Immigration Act 2009.

644 views

Deaths 10 Oct 2012
Tragic accident highlights importance of safety on quads

The quad bike accident that led to the death of a 10 year old boy is a tragic reminder of dangers associated with quad bikes.

778 views

Employment 9 Oct 2012
Company fined for failing to prevent fall from height

Building company Keith Hay Homes Limited has been fined $22,100 after the employee of a contractor was seriously injured after falling more than three metres from a roof.

545 views

News 9 Oct 2012
Inshore fishing industry consulted over foreign fishing crews

Consultation on proposed changes to immigration rules for foreign fishing crew is being extended to businesses in the inshore fishing sector, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said today.

487 views

Employment 19 Sep 2012
Online vacancies increase in August

Skilled job vacancies advertised online increased in August, according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

522 views

Employment 17 Sep 2012
Taskforce Health and Safety Taskforce Consultation Document Released

The number of injuries occurring in New Zealand workplaces every year would fill Eden Park almost four times.

119 views

Employment 10 Sep 2012
Winstone Pulp fined $29,000 for unguarded saw

Tangiwai-based, Winstone Pulp International, has been ordered to pay a fine of $29,000 for a hazardous snip saw that had been used unsafely for more than seven years.

188 views

Employment 7 Sep 2012
Spring reminder for quad safety

Typically, five people will die and 850 will be injured each year in accidents involving quad bikes on farms.

187 views

Employment 6 Sep 2012
Quarterly Labour Market Report released

The latest employment forecasts are outlined in the Quarterly Labour Market Report released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) today.

166 views

Aviation 5 Sep 2012
Airline fined for failing to obtain clearance for passengers

Argentina’s largest airline was today fined a total of $18,000 in the Manukau District Court for failing to comply with its obligations under the Immigration Act 2009 in respect of two Chinese nationals and one Tongan national who boarded flights from Sydney to Auckland in March and November last year.

346 views

Migration 5 Sep 2012
Romanian group stopped from flying to New Zealand

A group of seven Romanians have been prevented from flying to New Zealand yesterday after suspicions were raised by immigration New Zealand (INZ) about their intentions.

1,012 views

Employment 5 Sep 2012
'Small Falls' Can Still Destroy Lives

The Labour Group of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is warning the construction industry that any fall from height is a dangerous fall, and says the industry must change its behaviour if the injury rate is to come down.

148 views

Employment 31 Aug 2012
Christchurch company, City Care, wins 2012 Skills Highway Award

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) congratulates Christchurch company, City Care, which has won the 2012 Skills Highway Award.

193 views

Employment 15 Aug 2012
Online vacancies increase slightly in July

Skilled job vacancies advertised online fell in July, but total online job vacancies increased according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

186 views

Employment 13 Aug 2012
Winstone Pulp fined $55,500 for failing to keep worker safe

Winstone Pulp International (Winstone) of Tangiwai has been fined for breaching health and safety legislation, leaving a worker with a broken collarbone and cracked rib.

140 views

Migration 13 Aug 2012
Over 80 percent of recent migrants satisfied with life in New Zealand

New research drawn from the Immigration Settlement Monitoring Programme Migrants Survey 2011, and released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) shows the overall picture of recent migrant settlement in New Zealand is positive and recent migrants are faring very well.

1,123 views

Employment 9 Aug 2012
Company and director fined for failing to report accident that left worker paralysed

Auckland carpentry company Five Star Homes NZ Limited and its sole director have each been fined for failing to notify the  Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) of a serious workplace accident that left a worker paralysed.

136 views

Employment 9 Aug 2012
Worker hospitalised after respiratory equipment fails

The hospitalisation of an Auckland Pack & Cool Limited worker has resulted in the company being fined $84,625 and ordered to pay reparation of $12,250 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of its employee.

111 views

Employment 7 Aug 2012
Keeping employees safe in areas of volcanic ash fall

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has made health and safety information available for employers who may be operating in areas of ash fall following the eruption at Mt Tongariro overnight.

146 views

Employment 6 Aug 2012
Kerikeri conveyor accident highlights importance of machine guarding

A Kerikeri company has been fined after an employee suffered serious harm when his foot became trapped in an unguarded conveyor.  Mt Pokaka Timber Products Limited was fined $52,500 and ordered to pay reparation of $20,000 to the victim at the Kaikohe District Court on Friday 3 August.

195 views

News 1 Aug 2012
Project management company prosecuted for failing to ensure safety on worksite

Wellington project management company Icon Projects Limited has been fined $13,000 after it failed to ensure adequate health and safety systems were in place on a worksite it was managing.

257 views

Legal 31 Jul 2012
Pike River Coal Ltd – one health and safety charge withdrawn

One of the ten charges laid against Pike River Coal Ltd (In Receivership) over the explosion which killed 29 miners has been withdrawn.

175 views

Employment 30 Jul 2012
Arm amputation accident highlights importance of machine guarding

A Christchurch company and one of its directors have been prosecuted after an employee lost his arm when it became trapped for several hours in a tree shredding machine.

129 views

Business 30 Jul 2012
Adventure Activities Regulations: Interim list of approved safety auditors released

An interim list of approved audit providers has been released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

167 views

Employment 27 Jul 2012
Website assisting New Zealand employers upgraded

Two upgraded tools designed to assist New Zealand businesses in their search for offshore talent have been launched in Wellington.

133 views

News 26 Jul 2012
Company prosecuted for using unsafe demolition practices

Wellington company C&M Transport Limited has been fined $10,000 after one of its employees was exposed to asbestos, live electricity and falling objects on a central city demolition site.

88 views

Employment 26 Jul 2012
Tragic forklift accident highlights importance of putting safety first

A forklift repair job which turned horribly wrong “serves as a warning” to all employers to put safety first when planning for and undertaking hazardous work.

124 views

News 25 Jul 2012
Preventable fall from height leaves worker seriously injured

Boat building company Alloy Yachts International Limited was today fined $39,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $14,000 after one of its workers fell nearly four metres, and was seriously injured.

131 views

News 25 Jul 2012
High Hazards Unit shuts down development areas at Solid Energy's Spring Creek Mine

The High Hazards Unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has put a prohibition notice on development operations at Solid Energy’s Spring Creek mine on the West Coast following a serious injury accident there in the early hours of today.

117 views

News 25 Jul 2012
Preventing falls project enters proactive enforcement stage

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has launched a project to raise awareness about working safely at height and reduce the human and financial toll caused by falls from height.

127 views

Employment 24 Jul 2012
Company fined $64k for failing to protect employee from injury

Affco New Zealand Limited (Affco) has been fined $56,250 after one of its employees fell nearly seven metres in Affco’s Horotiu premises.

133 views

Employment 19 Jul 2012
Worker seriously injured after falling from unsafe scaffolding

Rotorua company A-Z Rigging and Scaffolding Limited was today fined $30,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $15,500 after a worker was seriously injured when he fell from a scaffolding plank that snapped.

156 views

Employment 18 Jul 2012
Online vacancies fall in June

The number of job vacancies advertised online fell in June following an increase in May, according to the latest Jobs Online report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

133 views

Migration 17 Jul 2012
Update on Immigration New Zealand operation on fraudulent student visas

Five people who came to New Zealand on student visas obtained by fraud have been found by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) compliance staff and are now in custody awaiting deportation.

429 views

Employment 17 Jul 2012
Sawmill company fined $20,000 after worker trapped in unguarded machine

A Kawerau sawmill company has been ordered to pay a fine of $20,000 after one of its employees sustained multiple fractures when he became trapped in a conveyor belt.

153 views

News 11 Jul 2012
Immigration New Zealand uncovers fraud in student visa applications

Immigration fraud has been uncovered through routine random sampling of student visa applications through Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Beijing branch.

119 views

Employment 6 Jul 2012
Taranaki company fined $60,000 after employee seriously injured by sawmill

Brian Crawford Contracting Limited has been fined $60,000 and ordered to pay $50,000 in reparation to an employee who had a leg amputated in an accident with a portable sawmill in September last year.

145 views

Migration 5 Jul 2012
Pacific Quota residence applications deadline extended to March 2013

Immigration New Zealand has extended the deadline for submission of all Samoa Quota and Pacific Access Category residence applications to Friday 15 March 2013 instead of 11 January 2013 as announced earlier.

549 views

Employment 5 Jul 2012
Company gets big wake-up call after failing to report serious workplace accidents

Failing to report a series of workplace accidents has cost Auckland-based company Mondiale Freight Services Limited fines totalling $62,475.

136 views

Court 2 Jul 2012
Department of Labour appeals Safe Air Limited sentence

Lesley Haines, Head of Health and Safety, Department of Labour says: The Department of Labour has filed an appeal over the District Court sentence imposed on Safe Air Limited after one of its engineers was killed while servicing an engine.

349 views

Employment 27 Jun 2012
Trial periods used to reduce risk: Department of Labour research

New research by the Department of Labour shows employers are using the 90-day trial periods to reduce the risk of taking on new employees.

177 views

Employment 26 Jun 2012
Lucky escape for worker injured by poorly guarded machinery

Manufacturing company Proform Plastics Limited was today fined $42,000 after a worker narrowly avoided being seriously injured by unguarded machinery.

140 views

Migration 22 Jun 2012
Pacific immigration ballot draw results announced

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu who have submitted their registration applications for this year’s ballot under the Samoan Quota (SQ) or Pacific Access Category (PAC) will find out today if their applications are successful from the ballot draw.

668 views

Employment 20 Jun 2012
Strong growth in online job vacancies in May

Job vacancies advertised online grew strongly in May after consecutive falls in March and April, according to the latest Jobs Online.

146 views

Employment 13 Jun 2012
Delivery driver's serious injury highlights need for workplace safety zones

An avoidable injury to a delivery truck driver visiting Sealed Air’s Glendene premises has cost the company a fine of $32,700.  In addition, the Court found that Sealed Air should also pay reparation of $40,000 to the victim.  The company had already paid the victim $37,500 so the Court ordered Sealed Air to “top up” the $37,500 with an additional $2,500.

164 views

News 9 Jun 2012
Guidelines for Working on Roofs Launched at National Conference

New guidelines to help prevent workers falling from roofs have been launched to the roofing industry.

168 views

Migration 5 Jun 2012
Pacific immigration ballots to be drawn this Friday

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu who have registered for this year’s Samoa Quota and Pacific Access Category will soon find out if their applications are selected in the ballot run at the end of the week.

354 views

News 31 May 2012
Lifetime achievement award for Department of Labour expert

One of the Department of Labour's leading health and safety experts has been given a lifetime achievement award for his 35 years of dedication to workplace health and safety in New Zealand.

Principal Advisor Keith Stewart accepting his lifetime achievement award.

463 views

News 30 May 2012
Company fined $56,250 following preventable death at work

Safe Air Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air New Zealand Limited has been fined $56,250 after one of its employees died in a workplace accident.

115 views

Employment 25 May 2012
Company fined for failing to prevent fall from height

Roofing company Metind Limited (formerly Metalcraft Industries Limited) has been fined $43,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $10,000 after an employee was seriously injured after falling more than three metres from a roof.

174 views

News 25 May 2012
High Hazards Unit closes Broken Hills gold mine in Coromandel

COROMANDEL — The Department of Labour’s High Hazards Unit today issued a prohibition notice to the Broken Hills gold mine in Coromandel, shutting it down until a major issue is rectified.

549 views

Employment 22 May 2012
Ten businesses enter skills highway award 2012

The businesses entered in this year’s Skills Highway Award place a high value on workplace literacy training, and are clearly proud of the results they achieve, says Labour Department Deputy Chief Executive Labour Group, Lesley Haines.

204 views

Employment 22 May 2012
New industrial guidelines released

The Department of Labour and the Industrial Rope Access Association of New Zealand (IRAANZ) have today released new Best Practice Guidelines for industry rope access in New Zealand.

138 views

Migration 18 May 2012
Eight unlawful workers arrested in Northland

NORTHLAND — Eight unlawful seasonal workers have been detained by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) in Northland following a joint operation with the New Zealand Police.

467 views

Employment 17 May 2012
New Department of Labour research looks at employment and earnings of migrants in New Zealand

New Department of Labour research out today looks at the success of migrants in the job market in New Zealand three years after they gain permanent residence.

205 views

Employment 16 May 2012
Fall in skilled vacancies in April: Department of Labour Jobs Online

The Department of Labour’s Jobs Online report shows skilled job vacancies decreased by a seasonally adjusted 3.1 percent in April compared to March, while all online job vacancies fell by 2.4 percent.

205 views

News 15 May 2012
Newly established biometric partnership proving its worth

One year on from the implementation of an international fingerprint checking system, biometric information sharing is yielding excellent results says Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

145 views

News 14 May 2012
Immigration conducts biggest single offload

A group of Malaysian women have been denied boarding on a flight to New Zealand in what is Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) largest ever single offload.

122 views

Employment 11 May 2012
Workplace injury highlights importance of machine guarding

NAPIER — An avoidable injury to a worker has cost forestry and timber processing company Pan Pac Forest Products Limited a fine of $39,000.00 and reparations of$7,500.00 The Napier District Court heard that in March last year the employee’s ankle was crushed while clearing jammed laths.

346 views

News 8 May 2012
Immigration New Zealand border staff catch people smuggler

A suspected people smuggler has been caught at Auckland airport after immigration officers were alerted to his suspicious behaviour.

107 views

Employment 3 May 2012
Company fined after employee loses sight

TAURANGA — An Aluminium joinery repair and maintenance contractor was yesterday fined $10,000.00 and ordered to pay reparations of $15,000.00 after a workplace accident caused an employee to lose sight in one eye after just two days in the job.

433 views

News 2 May 2012
Update on Implementation of Adventure Activities Regulations

The Department of Labour is pleased with the response from operators of adventure activities as the first phase of the implementation of the new Adventure Activities Regulations draws to a close.

109 views

News 2 May 2012
Risky demolition practices results in fine

WELLINGTON CITY — Owners of Wellington’s Settlement Building were fined $24,000 today after the employees of the demolition contractor they engaged were exposed to asbestos fibres and live electricity while working on the inner city site in January last year.

125 views

News 1 May 2012
Research shows industry training link to more earnings

A Department of Labour study into the earnings benefits of industry training shows that, on average, trainees who gained level 2 to 5 qualifications earned more as a result.

165 views

News 1 May 2012
More suspected skimmers caught by Immigration

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the New Zealand Customs Service have stopped two more suspected card skimmers from coming to New Zealand.

128 views

Court 30 Apr 2012
Update on Department of Labour prosecution: Watercare Services Ltd and Canadian Pacific Ltd

AUCKLAND CITY — Following its investigation in to the gas explosion in Onehunga in June 2011, the Department of Labour commenced prosecution action against Watercare Services Ltd and one of its contractors, Canadian Pacific Ltd.

577 views

News 24 Apr 2012
RSE workers share their songs of worship

NELSON — Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu were among Christian choirs that participated in an annual - Many People, Many Songs celebration at Nelson Cathedral in New Zealand’s upper South Island.

206 views

Employment 23 Apr 2012
Vanuatu celebrates five years of RSE

New Zealand's Department of Labour has congratulated the Vanuatu Government on reaching its fifth year of participation in New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

174 views

Employment 18 Apr 2012
Steady growth in online skilled vacancies in March

Skilled job vacancies advertised online had a steady growth in March after a strong increase in February, according to the latest Jobs Online.

118 views

Employment 17 Apr 2012
Research Shows Skilled Migrants Points System Working Well

New research by the Department of Labour has found the Skilled Migrant Category is generally working well, with 94 percent of skilled migrants in jobs three years after migrating, and earning on average $30 an hour.

186 views

News 13 Apr 2012
Company Fined For Unsafely Storing Hazardous Substance

A company that purchases and stores chemical waste products has today been fined $10000 for failing to safely store a hazardous substance.

177 views

News 13 Apr 2012
Immigration Thwarts Suspected Skimmers

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has stopped nine suspected Bulgarian bankcard skimmers from entering New Zealand.

154 views