GuidesLast checked 17 Oct 2026
Settlement information for AEWV workers
What Immigration New Zealand (INZ) says about settlement information for AEWV workers: the timeframe, the nine topics, INZ’s template, and the evidence INZ lists.
Requirements are quoted word for word from INZ, with a link to each source. The text between the quotes introduces them and adds nothing to them. In the quotes, “we” and “us” mean INZ.
The requirement and timeframe
INZ’s page “Accredited employer requirements to help settle workers in New Zealand” says:
“Giving your workers information about working and living in New Zealand is a requirement of being an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) accredited employer.”
“As an AEWV accredited employer you must provide AEWV workers with information about settling in New Zealand within their first month of employment. These requirements also apply to workers on seasonal AEWVs — the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV).”
Source: INZ, Accredited employer requirements to help settle workers in New Zealand. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s Operational Manual puts the timeframe this way:
“(b) The settlement support activities must be completed within one month of the employee beginning their employment as an Accredited Employer work visa holder.
Note: For the avoidance of doubt, the settlement activities do not need to be completed multiple times by the employer for the same Accredited Employer work visa holder employee if the information initially provided has not changed.”
Source: INZ Operational Manual, WA2.10.5 Settlement support activities (WA2.10, effective 29 September 2025). Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
The nine topics
Under “Providing workers with settlement information”, INZ’s page says:
“As an AEWV accredited employer you must give your workers information to help them get settled in New Zealand.”
“You must provide the following information about the local community and services, and information about being an AEWV worker:
- accommodation options
- transportation options — including information on driving and driver licences, and public transport options
- the cost of living
- how to access healthcare services
- Citizens Advice Bureau services
- information on relevant community groups
- how to get an IRD number from Inland Revenue
- any industry training and qualification information and options, and
- specific job or industry hazards.”
“If you have given this information to the worker before, you do not need to give it again if the information has not changed.”
Source: INZ, Accredited employer requirements to help settle workers in New Zealand. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s page has a section for each topic, with links to official sources and examples of local information. It also lists optional information under “Optional information you could provide” and “Other information you could include”.
Read the Operational Manual’s wording
“(a) The employer must provide the following information about the local community and services and employee work-related matters to their Accredited Employer work visa holder employees:
- accommodation options;
- transportation options (including driving and driver licence information, and public transportation options);
- the cost of living;
- how to access healthcare services;
- Citizens Advice Bureau services;
- relevant community groups;
- how to obtain an IRD number from Inland Revenue; and
- any industry training and qualification information and options; and
- specific job or industry hazards.”
Source: INZ Operational Manual, WA2.10.5(a) (WA2.10, effective 29 September 2025). Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s template
Under “Use our template to give the required information”, INZ’s page says:
“You can use our template to provide AEWV workers with settlement information. You can also use your own document.”
“The 'Advice to help you settle in Aotearoa New Zealand' template helps to make sure you give your AEWV worker the required information.”
“This document contains sections for:
- general information you must include for all AEWV workers
- local or personalised information you could include, and
- optional information you could include.”
“The sections you should personalise are highlighted in the document, with instructions and examples of information you could include.
- Read all the highlighted instructions.
- Replace the highlighted instructions with local information. Use the examples to help you.
- Delete any remaining highlighted instructions.
After you have updated the document with information for your AEWV worker, email it to them or give them a printed copy.”
“You can include this settlement information in a welcome kit. Making a welcome kit is one of the things you can do to prepare for your new AEWV worker.”
Source: INZ, Accredited employer requirements to help settle workers in New Zealand. The template is a Word document on INZ’s website: Advice to help you settle in Aotearoa New Zealand — template for AEWV accredited employers. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
Keeping a record of having given it
INZ describes the evidence in four places.
INZ’s settlement page
“Evidence to show you have done this can include:
- copies of settlement information
- communications with workers about the settlement information
- your organisation's induction plans for new workers.”
Source: INZ, Accredited employer requirements to help settle workers in New Zealand. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s Operational Manual
“(c) Evidence of meeting the requirements set out at (a) above may include, but is not limited to:
- copies of the settlement information;
- communications to Accredited Employer work visa holder employees with the settlement information; and
- on-boarding or induction policies, guidelines or plans for new employees.”
Source: INZ Operational Manual, WA2.10.5(c) (WA2.10, effective 29 September 2025). Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s guide to post-accreditation checks
“You need to meet the requirements around helping AEWV workers settle in New Zealand within their first month of employment. Evidence could include:
- copies of the settlement support information you have provided to your AEWV employees.”
Source: INZ, Guide to post-accreditation checks for AEWV employers. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.
INZ’s renewal page
Among the supporting documents for a renewal, INZ lists “evidence showing that you provided settlement support information within 1 month of the AEWV worker starting to work for you”. Under “Evidence of settlement support”, it says:
“Examples of evidence of settlement support include:
- copies of any documents or information you gave your AEWV worker to help them settle in New Zealand, for example, emails to the worker, letters and invoices from relocation specialists or settlement training courses completed
- copies of your onboarding or induction policy.”
“If you declare that you have not provided settlement information to all AEWV workers recruited since your last accreditation application within 1 month of them starting work, you will be asked to provide supporting evidence with your application.”
“Evidence can include:
- an explanation why settlement support was not given, for example you have not employed any AEWV workers during the accreditation period
- copies of policies implemented to make sure this does not happen again
- documents showing steps taken to ensure that this information will be provided in the future.”
Source: INZ, Renewing your AEWV employer accreditation. Last checked 17 Oct 2026.