Govt looks at easier entry for talented

By RICHARD BRADDELL

The Government is reviewing immigration policy to make it easier for new economy-skilled migrants to enter.

Prime Minister Helen Clark told the e-commerce summit in Auckland yesterday that if the rest of the world was poaching our best brains, we should be doing the same by attracting talent to New Zealand.

While New Zealand might not be able to compete on salary terms, it was highly competitive on lifestyle and living standards, she said.

In a reference to the Lord of the Rings production in Wellington and the Xena TV series filmed in the Waitakeres, Helen Clark said creative products could be just as easily crafted in NZ as in Hollywood.

And with the new high-capacity Southern Cross telecommunications cable link with North America beginning operation next month, products could be exported "at the speed of light," she said.

Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Commerce Minister Paul Swain were among six cabinet members who fronted on the second day of the summit.

Mr Swain said that from conference feedback New Zealand had achieved 6.3 out of 10 for strategy and business performance. That was a good first effort, but more aggression, attitude and stretching outside the comfort zone were required.

Dr Cullen said NZ had the edge on its larger peers because it could respond quickly to the net and that would turn NZ's traditional disadvantages of small size and distance from market on their head.

But he called on a closer partnership between business and local government, particularly in administration of the Resource Management Act and compliance costs.

Herald Online feature: e-commerce summit

Official e-commerce summit website