New Zealand-Philippines work scheme to strengthen links

WELLINGTON (Xinhua) - Young New Zealanders and Filipinos will be able to spend a year working, studying and holidaying in each other's countries under a new visa scheme from next month, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced Friday.

A new working holiday scheme would allow 100 New Zealanders to holiday and work in the Philippines and 100 Filipinos to do the same in New Zealand each year.

McCully said the scheme, open to people aged 18 to 30, was an excellent opportunity for young New Zealanders to experience another culture.

"The Filipino community, at over 37,000 strong, is now the largest of all Association of Southeast Asian Nations communities in New Zealand," McCully said in a statement.

"This working holiday scheme will further promote the important links between our two countries."