More South Koreans can stay and work in NZ

3:32 pm on 31 December 2015

More people from the Republic of Korea are now able to stay and work in New Zealand under a new visa scheme.

Three new or amended visa policies were agreed to when the New Zealand - Korea free trade agreement signed in March took effect this month.

More than 1000 additional places have been made available through the Korean Working Holiday Scheme, under which Korean citizens under the age of 30 are allowed to stay in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

The agreement also makes Koreans eligible for the primary sector trainee visa allowing 50 citizens to take part in work experience in New Zealand each year.

Two hundred additional spaces have also been opened up under a new visa category for people working in specific fields such as biomedical engineering, taekwondo and film animation.