Bonus points for migrants still being worked out

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse

Cabinet will have to wait until next year to hear the finer details of a plan to get more migrants to Northland.

In July, the Government announced plans to attract migrants to the regions by offering bonus points on residency requests to skilled workers who took jobs or set up businesses there. The new measures take effect from next month.

Documents released by Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse under the Official Information Act said the proposed programme of work would improve the contribution of migration to the labour market. It would also improve attraction, selection and integration of the entrepreneurs and investors that would help the economy to grow and become more innovative and productive.

The programme would help the immigration system better facilitate the entry of people who contributed to economic growth and more efficiently manage risk.

Private secretary, Immigration, Lauren Deslandes, said the report back to Cabinet on the programme of work originally planned for August was initially extended to later this year. However, the report had now been further extended and Cabinet was expected to receive further advice in March 2016.

When the new measures were announced, many in the regions were optimistic, with cultural leaders and recruitment bosses saying the plans would allow migrants to use their skills to help develop regional areas.

However, economist Shamubeel Eaqub said there was a massive skills mismatch in the provinces and it was shortsighted to use immigration to fill that gap, rather than training and education. New Zealand First leader and Northland MP Winston Peters said the measures were a "dog whistle" by a government trying to look like it was doing something.

Treasury also warned the policy changes were unlikely to have a consequential impact for regional development.

In a July briefing to Finance Minister Bill English, Treasury said most migrants currently didn't go to non-urban areas.