As we forewarned last month, the government is to cut immigration numbers slightly in the coming year.

“The number of migrants being sought under the programme in 2007-08 has been set in the range 45,000 to 50,000,” says Immigration Minister David Cunliffe.

“The range for the 12 months to June 30 was 47,000 to 52,000. Current indications are that about 47,000 people will have been approved for residence during that year.”

Skilled/Business Stream approvals account for 60 percent, Family Sponsored 30 percent and International/ Humanitarian 10 percent.

“As I have said on a number of occasions recently, with the economy strong and New Zealand competing in a global market for skilled migrants, our top priority at present is ensuring we get high quality migrants while not adding to inflationary pressures.

“At the same time, many employers continue to report skill shortages. Migrants with the appropriate skills are an important way to meet those shortages, but there are others.

“Temporary migrants can also be used to fill immediate skill shortages. The government recognises the skill and talent contribution from temporary migrants. In conjunction with our residence programme I have directed the Department of Labour to investigate a range of initiatives to improve employer awareness of, and access to, temporary work policy.

New Zealand First’s Deputy Leader Peter Brown said that while the decreasing numbers are a positive sign, a great deal more needs to be done to increase the proportion of skilled migrants in the annual quota.

“We must end the blind commitment to bringing in 45,000 plus migrants annually and ensure that migrant numbers are matched to true gaps in the labour market that New Zealanders are not able to fill,” said Mr Brown.

“While we are obliged to accept 750 refugees through our UN commitments, the Government has set aside between 4,500 – 5,000 places in the International/Humanitarian stream for the upcoming year. That is nearly seven times more than our international obligations.

“20,000 migrants coming into New Zealand annually with no guarantee of positively contributing to our economy is far too many. The Government needs to reassess its policies and ensure that priority is given to meeting New Zealand’s economic needs first,” said Mr Brown.