Work experience is recognised and qualifies for points if it meets the requirements set out at (a) and (b) below:
An immigration officer must be satisfied that work experience is:
relevant to the principal applicant's current skilled employment in New Zealand or offer of skilled employment in New Zealand (see SM7); or
relevant to the principal applicant's recognised qualification (see SM14); or
skilled, because it required, or enabled the principal applicant to gain specialist, technical or management skills and experience relevant to an occupation that is included in the lists of occupations held at Appendix 6 or Appendix 7.
Work experience must also have been gained in a labour market that is comparable to the New Zealand labour market unless:
the work experience meets the requirements set out at SM13.20 for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage; or
the principal applicant has current skilled employment in New Zealand or an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand (see SM7).
SM11.15 Additional requirements for recognition of work experience
Work experience only qualifies for points if an immigration officer is satisfied that the principal applicant's work experience is lawfully obtained.
Work experience will not be recognised if it was gained while in a country where the principal applicant was either an unlawful resident or required authority to undertake employment, but did not have such authority.
SM 11.15.1 Part-time work
Calculation of levels of work experience must be for complete weeks based on a 30-hour week.
Credit is given for 30-hour weeks only, even though a principal applicant has worked more than 30 hours in any week.
Example: Fifty-two 60-hour weeks are equal to one years work experience.
Credit for part-time work experience may be given on a proportional basis.
Example: Four years work experience for 15 hours per week is equal to 2 years work experience for a 30-hour week, and therefore qualifies for 10 points.