Prime Minister’s Weekly Column
The National-led Government is committed to an economy that is open to the world and embraces free trade and immigration.
That’s why we’ve just announced changes to our immigration settings to help spread the benefits of migration across the country. These changes will ensure regional New Zealand benefits from the skills, labour, and capital that migrants bring to our country. More points will be offered to migrants who opt to live, work and set up businesses outside Auckland. New migrants need to reach a set number of points in order to gain residency.
From 1 November this year the number of bonus points offered to skilled migrants applying for residence with a job offer outside of Auckland will be boosted from 10 to 30, which counts… towards the 100 points they require. These migrants will be required to commit to a region for a minimum of 12 months, rather than the current three months. Also, entrepreneurs who set up businesses outside Auckland will now get 40 bonus points rather than 20, which goes towards the 120 points they require for residency.
These migrants have high-level experience to establish a new business, or take over an existing business and commit to growing it in the regions. This will boost investment and jobs in the regions and increase innovative and high-growth businesses with export potential operating across the regions. Overall, the feedback to our announcement has been positive. Local mayors and business groups have welcomed the opportunity to access the skills and capital their regions need to grow and create jobs. Many people want to live, work and raise their families in New Zealand. These changes provide opportunities for those people to bring their skills, capital, and expertise to areas that will benefit most from them. New Zealand’s future is in being open to the rest of the world, in connecting with other countries and making the most of those linkages.
The National-led Government values the benefits that free trade agreements deliver and the opportunities they offer. Free trade agreements help to further diversify the economy through a broader range of trade and investment relationships. And this flows through to higher incomes and more jobs for New Zealanders. We’re a busy Government that is energised and focused on helping our country get ahead. This latest policy announcement is just one of the many we’ll be announcing over the coming term.
