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Well, what a year. As I look back over the past twelve months personally, at the business, the country and the world, I can safely say there has not been a dull moment. On a personal level it has been a year of real challenges with Myer moving to Australia to head up IMMagine Australia, but I have taken the opportunity whilst overseas to spend a few days in Game Reserves in South Africa where I managed to see my first wild Cheetah, managed to see private lions on the hunt, had my 4 x 4 charged by a black Rhinoceros, saw at ten paces a bull elephant the size of a bus and had a curious Hyena wanting to share my steak every night in camp.
I also managed to explore the city of Kuala Lumpur where I learned the art of haggling very quickly, got over eating at roadside stalls where the cockroaches were bigger than the prawns and had two trips to Thailand which were really amazing. Also for the first time I thought it appropriate for my sixteen year old son to fly up and join me to see how the old man pays for those private school fees. Jack joined me in Kuala Lumpur a couple of weeks ago and he helped out at the immigration seminar that I was presenting and then went off to explore the city of Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days on his own. He joined me in Thailand for some scuba diving and we had a wonderful time. We just don't create the time to spend with our children one on one. For me, as his father, to see his growing independence and curiosity of what lies beyond these shores, was a fine end to a personal year in which I have learned that the recession may have been deep and could have become all consuming, but life still goes on and there are still adventures to be had.
IMMagine New Zealand has come through this recession (which we are told ended back in June) relatively unscathed. I would say, however, I have learned more about running a business in the last twelve months than I have in the twenty years that preceded 2009. With my business partner and good friend Myer settling into Melbourne and the IMMagine Australia office, I have had to take on the full responsibilities of running the New Zealand operation and there could not have been a more challenging year in which to do it. I am not one for goal setting but I did say back in April if we could break even this financial year when so many others could not, I think that we would be doing fairly well. It looks like we are on track to do that which is a great testament to the team I have around me. One of the lessons I have taken out of this year is to have around me the top people and I sincerely believe I now have the best team of licensed Immigration Advisers and support staff in the country
In October we welcomed aboard Bernard Lock (LLM) who had successfully run his own law practice in South Africa before emigrating to New Zealand. He is a man of great compassion and intelligence, two qualities I believe are essential to working successfully as an Immigration Adviser. I am extremely excited to have secured his services and look forward to a long association with him.
It is always challenging helping clients cope mentally with the rigours and dare I say stupidity of much of what migrants are expected to deal with in terms of the bureaucratic process of securing Visas and this year has been more challenging than most. From 2003 through to 2008 most clients were securing employment very quickly, but this year it has probably taken the average client between six and twelve weeks to secure employment. That has meant a lot more hand holding and encouragement from us and although we probably can't keep all of the people happy all of the time, I take my hat off to my team who have often gone above and beyond the call of duty to be there for clients, to reassure, to encourage and to assist, especially with regard to finding work.
We have really focused this year increasingly on broadening the networks we have available to us so that we can introduce more clients to potential recruiters (those recruiters who are interested) and employers and as we go to press I think we have two clients who have been in New Zealand for more than ten weeks who have not secured employment. Out of around 150 at a time of rising unemployment, that is testament not only to the guts and drive of our clients, but also the team of Advisers we have here helping them fulfil their dream of New Zealand residence.
As a country it has been a year of highs and lows. Unemployment has crept up from 3.5% at the beginning of 2009 to 6.5% now, business confidence was going through the floor in the first quarter of 2009 but is now back up at record levels not seen for twenty years. Employment intentions are now net positive i.e. more employers expecting to take on staff over the next twelve months and investment intentions are also rising and have turned positive.
After five quarters of recession, albeit reasonably shallow, there is no doubt that most businesses have taken a long hard look at themselves, their clients, their markets and their goals. New Zealand will undoubtedly be stronger for the experience. My one New Year's wish is that the Government is bold and takes this opportunity of putting in place the policies New Zealand really needs to grow. Whether we like it or not we are still relatively isolated from our major markets, we have a highly innovative population, we are worldly and street-wise, but after ten years of a Government taxing and spending, in particular on public services for low productivity gain, 2010 presents an opportunity for this Government to change the direction of New Zealand and to resume the programmes we enjoyed until 1999. 2010 then will be a real test for our Government and their commitment to putting in place policies that will see the country achieve its goal of returning to the top fifteen or so nations in the OVCD by 2020. Right now, unfortunately, there are few policies that appear to be considered that would do that although in recent weeks we have seen two major reports released – one around taxation and the other around strengthening our capital markets. These two reports alone present an enormous opportunity for the Government to seize the initiative and get New Zealand and New Zealanders positioned to revive the standard of living and public services demanded by what is an aging population.
With the Immigration Advisers' Licensing Act now functional my wish list for Government in 2010 is short – work with those of us you have licensed in a positive way to ensure our clients receive efficient service. There is no doubt any longer that those with licences are the key to assisting the Government increase productivity within the Immigration Department.
I for one am really looking forward to 2010.
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