Hi Shaz,

I think it could often be a case of kiwi companies having to show that they can't fill a vacant position with a kiwi first, before turning to an immigrant.

If it were up to them alone, I'm sure they'd just want to employ the person best equipped to do the job for the right price whether kiwi or immigrant. I think it's just that they have to, through some law or other, give priority to a kiwi applicant before selecting an outsider. If they can prove they can't find a suitable kiwi, then they are free to take on someone else.