KEY POINTS:
The Government has made it easier for skilled migrants to notch up the points they need to get residency as New Zealand battles with other countries to woo workers.
Among the changes are extra points for the work experience and qualifications of an applicant's spouse or partner, a drop in the number of years a person must work in New Zealand to claim bonus points and extra points for those with post-graduate degrees from New Zealand.
There are also bonus points for workers with skills in certain growth industries and a review to expand the list of international qualifications which can earn points.
Last year 27,500 people got residency in the Skilled Migrants category, first introduced in 2003 to attract skilled people to New Zealand.
It now makes up about 60 per cent of those given residency each year.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said the changes would increase the points people could earn and were necessary to ensure that ratio stayed the same.
"The revised points more closely target the people who New Zealand needs.
"It also recognises, for example, that the partner of a principal applicant can be of significant value to New Zealand in his or her own right."
NZ First deputy associate immigration spokesman Peter Brown said overall there were too many migrants entering New Zealand, but welcomed changes aimed at filling gaps in the workforce, rather than simply meeting population quotas.
"The introduction of bonus points for study and work history in New Zealand is a particularly positive step towards filling legitimate gaps in the labour market and ensuring we are not filling these gaps at the expense of training New Zealanders."
Business NZ said the increase in points available would make it easier for businesses seeking skilled staff.
Those who score 140 points or more are automatically selected to apply, others are assessed to take left-over places.
Mr Cunliffe said the total number of people accepted in all categories for residency over the past year was expected to be 47,000 - down on 51,000 of the 2005/06 year, and short of the forecast 50,000.
The prediction for next year was also about 47,000.
