New Zealand is losing nurses because of immigration rules they say, make them feel unwelcome

The Nurses Organisation has written to Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi asking for urgent reform to help fill a "critical shortage" of nurses, made worse by Covid-19.

The letter says one major problem is the difficulty workers on temporary work visas have in moving to a residency visa.

It says in-demand professionals who want to make New Zealand home, are battling with a system that keeps them in a permanent state of uncertainty.

A spokesperson for Faafoi says he'll have more to say on healthcare workers waiting on residency very soon.