Announcing immigration changes in Queenstown yesterday, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse singled out a ''one-off pathway to residence'' for about 1600 long-term temporary migrant workers and their families, about 4000 people in all, living in the South Island.
There had been significant growth in the number of lower-skilled temporary migrants in the South Island who helped fill genuine labour shortages and had become well-settled, he said.
However, because of temporary migration settings, many of these lower-skilled temporary migrants had no pathway to residence.
The new policy would allow eligible migrants to be granted an initial Work to Residence temporary visa, which would make them eligible for residence in two more years, provided they stayed in the same industry and region.
It would also enable employers to retain an experienced workforce that had helped meet genuine regional labour market needs.
The Government did not consider restricting the number of working holidaymakers, as it would have a reciprocal effect on countries with which New Zealand had working holiday agreements, and would particularly affect tourist centres like Queenstown, that relied on such people to fill jobs.
Mr Woodhouse also said the Government was not aiming to clamp down on the inflow of skilled migrants.
''We can and do train New Zealanders for these roles, but some industries need more experienced and skilled people than a small economy can provide,'' Mr Woodhouse said.
''To restrict that would put the economy at risk.''
The Government was using remuneration thresholds for permanent and temporary migrants as a tool because they served as a ''good proxy'' for the quality of those migrants.
Mr Woodhouse wanted to be ''crystal clear'' employers could continue to use migrant workers, provided they proved they could not find New Zealanders to do the jobs.
Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay said because of low levels of unemployment, the South simply did not have the capacity to fill jobs with local labour, particularly in the agriculture, tourism and hospitality industries, so the change was fantastic for the area.
The requirement to remain in the same region for a further two years after being granted residence would ensure that commitment to the region continued.
Dunedin-based Otago Southland Employers' Association chief executive Virginia Nicholls said the changes to immigration settings would help secure higher skilled migrants, while safeguarding New Zealand workers.
She welcomed the one-off opportunity for residency for the lower-skilled, long-term temporary migrant workers and families living in the South Island.
BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope said a new pay threshold for higher-skilled migrants set at the median income for skilled jobs would reduce the potential for migrants to undercut Kiwi workers' pay.
''Employers have faced real difficulties in getting higher-skilled workers and the changes will help get more focus on actively sought skills.''
At the same time, proposed new stand-down rules for lower-skilled migrants would reduce the potential for residence applications to be dominated by lower-skilled workers.
Labour dismissed the changes as ''tinkering''. New Zealand First said it was a ''callous attempt to retain power'', which would do little to reduce immigration.
-Additionally reported by Simon Hartley
