KEY POINTS:
New Zealand gained 14,609 people through immigration last year, nearly twice the 6971 figure for 2005, the Government said today.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe released a new report and said it showed the country was benefiting.
The report said 90 per cent of skilled migrants were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with life in New Zealand, and 81 per cent of employers said they were impressed with the performance of their migrant staff.
"New Zealand needs to grow and we need people with skills to undertake the economic transformation we need for a prosperous future," Mr Cunliffe said.
"However, the net gain through migration is not so large as to have a radical impact on our communities."
The Maori Party has complained about the immigration rate, which it blames for the fact that an eighth Maori seat in Parliament was not created when voter figures were worked out earlier this year.
Although there were more people on the Maori voters roll, the overall increase in the population cancelled them out in terms of an extra seat.
- NZPA
