Immigration New Zealand is relaxing its requirements for overseas people wanting to work in Queenstown, in a bid to ease the town's drastic labour shortage.
From now until the end of June, employers will be exempt from having to provide evidence of attempting to recruit a New Zealander or New Zealand resident.
Hospitality employers had complained the process was delaying their ability to find staff.
Hotel manager Penny Clark said the development was good news.
But a spokesperson for the Service and Foodworkers Union Jill Evans said it set a dangerous precedent and would ultimately drive down wages for all hospitality workers in Queenstown.
