The New 2021 Resident Visa announced on 30/09/2021 has brought happiness as well as grief to migrants. The New Zealand government announced the new visa by stating that this visa recognizes the immense contribution migrants have made to New Zealand during COVID-19 and the uncertainty they’ve faced with closed borders and necessary changes to immigration settings. They, however, failed to include an important category of other work visa holders who have also contributed immensely right throughout the pandemic and have also faced uncertainty due to the constant changes to immigration settings. Also, it is unfair to link SMC EOI pool candidates with this criteria since they have submitted EOI's under old rules.
The announcement has the following glaring gaps and discrepancies that should be addressed by the government to make it more inclusive and benefit a wider group of migrants:

1. The New 2021 Resident visa has left out people who are on partnership-based open work visas (partners of workers and students) who contributed during the COVID -19 pandemic. They should be to be added to the list of eligible visas. A lot of them are highly skilled earning either $27 per hour or are working in a role on a scarce list and had even lodged an SMC EOI.
2. The date selected by INZ i.e. 29/09/2018 for 3 years completion period looks completely out of the context and it is not clear that on what basis it was selected. There was no COVID during that time and the government should endeavor to cover all those who were actually present in the country from March 2020.
3. It is unfair to have the date as of 29/09/2021 for the eligibility criteria for three years. The date should either be 30/11/21 for the 1st phase or 28/02/2022 for the 2nd phase. This will make more people eligible to apply and is in line with the principles of fairness and natural justice.
4. People who have already submitted an EOI for SMC should not be needed to meet the eligibility criteria and should be permitted to apply for the New Resident Visa 2021 immediately, regardless of their current visa status. The linkage of criteria to SMC EOI or having an eligible visa is illogical and unjustifiable.