Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health) on behalf of the Minister of Immigration: Yes, immigration policy allowed migrant nurses to cross the border when it was closed; around 2,300 nurses did so. Through the immigration rebalance, we are providing a simple and streamlined pathway to residency for nurses coming to New Zealand. For the first time in recent history, our Government has put hospital nurses on the fast track to residency. In answer to the second part of the question, there is no question that we are facing sustained pressure across our health workforce. This is a challenge many other countries are going through as well. As a Government, we recognise this, and through our immigration policy settings we are setting up our workforces for success in the long term.