Immigration law experts Malcolm Pacific are celebrating 40 years in business. To mark this milestone, CEO and Director David Cooper discusses our immigration trends, successes and failures.
As the world faces a rising tide of global uncertainty, New Zealand may be better placed than ever to attract talent, investment, and families seeking a safe, inclusive home. That’s the message from David Cooper, CEO and Director of Malcolm Pacific Immigration, as the company celebrates 40 years of guiding people through one of life’s biggest decisions: moving countries.
“I’ve just returned from a business trip through Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany,” says Cooper. “And in Germany in particular, you really felt the anxiety. They were saying, ‘Russia is on our doorstep. Israel’s not far away.’ There’s this growing unease—especially in Europe—that we haven’t seen for a very long time.”
Migration Shifts in a Changed World Since New Zealand reopened its borders post-COVID, there’s been a noticeable shift in immigration trends. “There was an influx of lower-skilled workers from places like India, China and the Philippines,” Cooper explains. “Now, with the new government, we’re seeing a pivot back to attracting more highly skilled migrants.”
However, not all countries are engaging equally. “The UK has gone really quiet,” he notes. “You’d think more Brits would be leaving, but barriers like the foreign buyers ban are turning them away.”
He offers a simple, real-world scenario: “If you’re a nurse in Middlesex with a mortgage, why would you uproot your life to come to New Zealand, where you can’t even buy a house until you’re a resident? Meanwhile, in Australia, (as a qualified nurse) you don’t even need a job offer to get residency.”
Australia: Fast, Loud, and Winning Cooper is quick to contrast New Zealand’s approach with that of our trans-Tasman neighbour. “The Aussies got off their arse fast. Massive marketing campaigns, hundreds of millions spent, and they’ve been oversubscribed across tourism, education and migration.”
While New Zealand has made moves, such as the newly refreshed Active Investor Plus visa, launched on 1 April, it’s clear that we’re still lagging. “The previous government’s changes saw us drop from 600–700 high-net-worth applicants a year to just 100. Within a week of launching the new policy, we had 33 applications. That’s a billion-dollar pipeline coming back.”
An Inclusive Approach to Partnership Visas Cooper is particularly positive about how partnership and same-sex applications are now handled. “Immigration New Zealand is much more mature in their approach. The HIV-related medical barriers are gone, and same-sex couples are going through the system no differently than heterosexual couples. That’s real progress.”
He adds that New Zealand continues to be a welcoming place for transgender migrants as well. “The system doesn’t throw up additional hurdles. If anything, we’re seeing more same-sex couples—both from overseas—coming here together to work or study.”
Advice for the LGBTQ+ Community For LGBTQ+ individuals considering a move to New Zealand, Cooper’s advice is simple: get good advice early. “Talk to someone experienced. A lot of reputable firms will do an initial consultation for free, just to assess whether you have a real pathway. There’s no need to waste money if you don’t.”
Asylum and Refugee Claims Rising While Malcolm Pacific doesn’t handle asylum cases, Cooper notes a significant spike in claims since the borders reopened, from several hundred to several thousand annually.
“That’s likely driven by desperation, often from people who don’t meet the criteria and have been given poor advice, telling them to apply. That’s not unique to New Zealand—it’s happening across Canada and Australia too.”
The Home Ownership Barrier One of the biggest hurdles remains New Zealand’s restriction on home purchases for non-residents. “If you come here on a three- to five-year work visa, you can’t buy a home. That’s a huge deterrent,” he says.
While some highly skilled migrants can apply for residency sooner, others must wait three years or more. Cooper believes the ability to buy property earlier would significantly increase New Zealand’s appeal to the kind of talent and entrepreneurs the country needs.
Credit Where It’s Due Despite frustrations, Cooper gives credit to current Immigration Minister Erica Stanford for major improvements.
“She’s really held officials to account. She’s not just making policy changes and walking away—she’s checking back, asking how it’s working, and fixing what’s broken.”
As for what New Zealand could be doing better? Cooper wants more unified, strategic global marketing. “Tourism NZ is out there doing a great job attracting tourists. Why can’t they also help sell New Zealand as a destination for students, skilled migrants and investors? Let’s pool our budgets and get the message out: New Zealand is open.”
A World Away—for the Better As the interview closes, Cooper reflects on what once felt like a disadvantage—New Zealand’s isolation. “In the ’80s and ’90s, our distance was a barrier. Now in an uncertain world, it’s becoming our greatest asset.”
Malcolm Pacific Immigration offers free assessments from licensed immigration advisers. For more information, contact them at 0800 800 612 or malcolmpacific.com.
