新西兰总理John Key今天在奥克兰举行的国家党年会上宣布移民政策修改方案，旨在鼓励更多创业移民和技术移民到奥克兰以外的地区安居就业，以便缓解奥克兰日趋严重的生活设施不足的问题。
移民政策改变的重点是：技术移民申请者如果获得奥克兰以外的工签（必须至少工作12个月，而非目前的3个月），分数可以由目前的10分增加到30分，这项政策将于今年11月1日实施；创业移民如果选择在奥克兰以外创业，分数可由目前的20分增加到40分。
部份在南岛持临时工签的海外技工可以申请长期居留。目前，在南岛，持有临时工签的低技能海外工人，并已工作超过五年的人数有约600人，政府正考虑给予这些工人申请长久居留的机会。
总理提及的修改政策的细节将于明年初宣布。

NZHerald英文报道：

Prospective immigrants to New Zealand will be given greater incentive

to go to provincial New Zealand under a series of immigration

measures outlined by Prime Minister John Key today to the National

Party conference in Auckland.

The points that skilled migrants get for a job offer outside Auckland will be increased from 10 points to 30 points from November 1 - of the 100 points they require.

They will have to stay in the regions for at least 12 months instead of

three months.

The points for immigrants on an entrepreneur work visa will double

from 20 points to 40 points of the 120 points they require if they set up a business outside Auckland.

Mr Key said the Immigration Service expected to approve up to 200

people on that visa next year.

Mr Key also announced the Government was considering a new

"global impact visa" aimed at technology entrepreneurs who wanted to set up a global business based in New Zealand.

It would be considered over the next few months.

Mr Key also announced that about 600 low skilled overseas workers in the South Island - thought to be mainly farm workers from the

Philippines - would be able to apply for residency.

For the past five years, they have had temporary work visas rolled

over.

"Their children are at schools," Mr Key said. "Their families are

valuable members of their communities and they conscientious workers working paying their taxes," he said.

Details would be announced later in the year.

Mr Key said a small new measure used by employers in Queenstown

would be extended across the country and that is the ability to check

directly with Work and Income as to whether New Zealanders are

available for particular jobs before lodging a visa application with

Immigration New Zealand.

Mr Key said the moves would contribute to a better balance in

immigration setting and help to spread the benefits of migration across the country.

"We need to be more c connected with the world because that's where our opportunities come from."

Mr Key said afterwards that his speech showed National's contrast with political opponent.

"National strongly backs the fact that New Zealand should be open -

open for investment, open for migrants - and actually a globally

connected country where we can do well because there is literally on

our doorstep literally billions of middle-income consumers that want to buy our products."

He rejected a suggestion that National was just copying Labour's

policy.

"They've said maybe a few more migrants should go around the

country but they haven't indicated at all how that might happen."

National's view was that if migrants brought capital, skills, and the right attitude they could make a real difference for the prosperity of New

Zealand.

Mr Key said it would affect the Auckland housing market "only at the

margins."

It might mean a few thousand from the "soft cap" 45,000 to 50,000

immigrants would go to other cities or regions.

Auckland would still be a very attractive destination.

"We are not making it harder to come to Auckland. We are making it

more attractive to go round the regions."