Bonus points for settling in Regions

Under the change skilled migrants and entrepreneurs will get even more points towards residency if they agree to live in the regions.

For entrepreneurs their bonus points will double from 20 to 40, while for skilled immigrants it will go up from 10 to 30 if they set up a business or accept a job offer outside Auckland.

Under the current rules if skilled migrants get 140 points they automatically get residency.

It would also double the points for entrepreneurs planning to set up a business in the regions under the Entrepreneur Work Visa from 20 to 40 points.

In a further move the Government intends streamlining the labour market test to provide more certainty to employers seeking to bring skilled migrants into the country.

Prime Minister John Key announced the policy at the National Party’s annual conference in Auckland.

Mr Key told the conference many mayors around the country had told him their regions could not attract the workers their businesses needed.

He told reporters the Government could not be sure how many migrants might move elsewhere as a result of the policy but it was likely to be effective.

“There’s no question that for some people they will now look at what’s on offer in New Zealand and they’ll say ‘it’s an easier pathway if I want to go to the regions than if I want to park myself in Auckland’.”

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said many new migrants settled in Auckland which faced many challenges providing enough infrastructure. At the same time many employers in other parts of the country often struggled to find enough skilled workers.

But Mr Woodhouse said New Zealanders would always be first in line for jobs.

Mr Key also responded to worries about the economy, saying it was well-placed to deal with the global challenges.

He said many sectors were performing strongly, with exports boosted by the lower valued New Zealand dollar.